The role of Humanitarian Studies in education and research for sector transformation

Authors

  • Adriana A. Stibral

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/thl2025art2188

Keywords:

Humanitarian studies, system transformation, education

Abstract

The international humanitarian aid sector is struggling to meet the increasing demands driven by displacement, protracted emergencies, new conflicts, and the climate crisis. Recent funding cuts make it even harder to respond to those needs, sparking renewed calls for a system transformation. Accompanying the humanitarian sectors’ expansion, growing complexity and ongoing reform process, has been the recent emergence of Humanitarian Studies as an academic field of scholarship. This is reflected in the proliferation of humanitarian-titled and focused degree programs, journals, and research initiatives, particularly visible in the Global North. This paper explores what Humanitarian Studies contribute to humanitarian aid and the sector - including its ongoing reform. Recently published research findings show that Humanitarian Studies play a key role in providing humanitarian education and generating humanitarian research relevant to humanitarian policy and practice. However, Humanitarian Studies could be much more inclusive, critical and interdisciplinary. Access to Humanitarian Studies degree programs needs to be expanded, and Humanitarian Studies education needs to be much more contextualised. In addition, Humanitarian Studies research outputs need to be more accessible and practical for humanitarian work.

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Author Biography

  • Adriana A. Stibral

    Dr Adriana A. Stibral works at Deakin University, where she teaches and researches humanitarian development subjects. She also works as a Lecturer in Humanitarian and Disaster Management at Charles Darwin University and as a Humanitarian Trainer for RedR Australia. 

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Published

2025-05-27

How to Cite

“The role of Humanitarian Studies in education and research for sector transformation” (2025) The Humanitarian Leader, 7(1), p. Working paper 054, May, 2025. doi:10.21153/thl2025art2188.