APMA, The Master’s Programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Asia Pacific
Structure and Contents
APMA is a 12-month intensive, interdisciplinary graduate programme jointly offered by the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies of Mahidol University (Thailand), Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law (Nepal), University of Colombo (Sri Lanka), and Universitas Gadjah Madah (Indonesia). The program reflects the inseparable links between human rights, democracy, peace, and development in the Asia Pacific region.
The programme is designed for those seeking greater understanding of regional and global human rights and democratisation issues. The programme is suitable for human rights practitioners and activists, for those engaged in related fields, or for new students who have just completed their first degree.
By the end of the programme, students will have:
- Excellent knowledge of theory and practice of the promotion and protection of human rights and democratization
- Tested their ability to undertake independent scholarly research on current human rights and democratization issues in the Asia Pacific region
- The capacity to put their academic understanding of human rights and democratization to use in real situations
The academic year is divided into two semesters and one summer term. Students take four courses during the first semester in Mahidol University, which is August to December of the academic year. In January of the second semester, students take part in the Intensive Course, a series of lectures and field work on a particular human rights issue that changes yearly. Examples of issues include Borders, Migration, and Human Rights (AY 2018-2019) and Development and Human Rights (AY 2019-2020).
Students then proceed to their chosen partner university (Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines, Kathmandu School of Law in Nepal, University of Colombo in Sri Lanka, or Universitas Gadjah Madah in Indonesia), where they take their remaining courses.
Students are required to take an internship during the second semester with a human rights or human rights-related organization or agency.
In addition, students are required to take up an Applied Research course where they get to choose whether to conduct an internship with a human rights organization or write an applied research paper in cooperation with a human rights organization.
Students are required to write and defend a master’s thesis during the summer term.