Competition for the selection of Higher Diplomas 2024

The  Higher Education Diplomas CLACSO's programs constitute a training proposal specially designed for audiences not necessarily specialized, with an interest in learning about and broadening their perspective on different topics in the field of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts.

In this sense, unlike seminars and specializations, diplomas have an introductory character, offering a general framework that promotes the construction of an overall view on a topic or area of ​​knowledge. 

Within the framework of the project of Platforms for Social Dialogue CLACSO's Training Program invites teachers to submit proposals that promote the development of critical and creative perspectives on the following themes:

• Inequalities and poverty
• Democracy, Human Rights and Peace
• Social movements and activism
• Rights, violence and gender equality
• Environment, climate change and just transitions
• Migration and human mobility
• Education rights
• Reconfigurations of work in today's world: subjects, organizations and processes

The Advanced Diplomas are offered through CLACSO's Virtual Learning Environment, a platform with over 20 years of experience in online education. Within this platform, each program is structured around 15 classes (5 thematic modules of 3 classes each), plus an opening activity at the beginning of the diploma and a closing activity at the end.

Professors who are members of CLACSO Member Centers, Working Groups, or who participate in doctoral or master's programs at CLACSO Member Centers are eligible to apply. To find out if your graduate program meets the requirements of this call for applications, please enter here.

1. Up to 8 proposals to be taught in the 2024 training cycle. 
   
2. The proposals will focus on the themes of the Platforms for Social Dialogue:
   
• Inequalities and poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Democracy, Human Rights and Peace
• Social movements and activism
• Rights, violence and gender equality
• Environment, climate change and social development
• Migration and human mobility
• Education rights
• Reconfigurations of work in today's world: subjects, organizations and processes
  
3. Each teaching team must consist of at least 6 professors from at least 3 postgraduate programs, and may submit only one proposal. The coordination team will consist of at least one trained research professor with a doctoral degree.The members of the Higher Diploma must have a postgraduate degree and demonstrate theoretical and methodological training in the proposed subject, teaching and research experience, along with a basic command of digital tools.
   
4. The program may combine classes in Spanish and Portuguese interchangeably. Modules and classes will be taught in the language of presentation, without translation.

The selected proposals will receive financial support. Each Diploma includes $6.000 to be distributed as follows:

• Coordinating team: 2.000 USD. 
• Classes: 150 USD (for 15 classes): 2.250 USD.
• Tutoring: 875 USD (for 2 tutors up to 40 students each): 1.750 USD.

1. The Postgraduate Network team suggests forming teams coordinated by two or three professors. The diploma program can be taught by a minimum of five and a maximum of fifteen professors.

2. The Advanced Diplomas will consist of 5 work modules, each comprising 3 weekly classes. In addition, there will be an opening activity for the presentation of the teaching team, the students, and the program's objectives, and a closing activity for a group evaluation of the Diploma. In total, there will be 15 classes plus an opening and a closing activity.

3. The titles of the diplomas should be clear and broad, aiming to appeal to the widest possible range of interested individuals. The following are good examples of titles whose programs were approved for delivery in previous editions:

   Advanced Diploma in Contemporary Pedagogical Problems.

   Advanced Diploma in Publishing Policies.

4. Each module comprises 3 classes that can combine synchronous and asynchronous modes, 2 discussion forums asynchronous (to promote debates and exchanges) and the required reading bibliographyNo more than four required texts may be used per module, and students should be encouraged to consult the supplementary bibliographic resources. All texts must be digitized by the teaching team. 

5. The class can be synchronous, a written text, or a video recording. When it's a synchronous session, The class should last 2 hoursIf it is a written text, it must have a minimum extension of 10 and a maximum of 15 veneers. If it is a video, It must be no less than 40 minutes in duration.

6. Each week, an activity will be held between students and the teaching team. Teachers and students are expected to interact in the designated spaces. The teaching team will provide feedback on the contributions made by the students. This includes both synchronous and asynchronous activities.

The coordinating team must:

1. Coordinate the training proposal with the teaching teams that will teach each of the modules, presenting a teaching schedule and ensuring that the classes will be available within the agreed deadlines. 
   
   
2. Carry out the opening and closing activities of the Diploma and coordinate with the team of tutors the work of monitoring the students and the correction of the final integrative works. 
   
   
3. Allow 4 hours in the two weeks prior to the delivery of the Diploma to familiarize yourself with the use of the platform and clarify any doubts regarding the work methodology.

The teaching teams responsible for the modules will have to assume responsibility for the delivery of their module, dedicating the necessary time to carry out the tasks involved in developing the training proposal. These tasks are:

1. Prepare the virtual classes and make them available to the students on the virtual platform well in advance.
   
   
2. Ensure access to the required and supplementary readings by uploading them to the virtual learning platform well in advance. The readings must be in the official language of the seminar (Spanish or Portuguese) and, preferably, should not exceed 80 pages per module. No more than two consecutive chapters from a publication may be included unless the copyright holder holds the rights. 
   
   
3. Allow 4 hours in the two weeks prior to the delivery of the Diploma to familiarize yourself with the use of the platform and clarify any doubts regarding the work methodology.

The tutors must:

1. Log in to the platform daily, at least once a day except on weekends, ensuring that students' inquiries are up to date.
   
   
2. Once the professor has started the forum, lead the discussion for each class. This involves keeping students engaged by encouraging group participation through questions and contributions.
   
   
3. Summarize the main points raised in each forum, in relation to the class proposal and the bibliography.
   
   
4. Manage and address any specific queries that may arise regarding the teaching proposal (where to find the material, difficulties in participation, etc.)
   
   
5. Collaborate in the correction of partial and final assignments.

Payments will be made in two installments. The first installment will be paid one month after the Diploma program begins (once the CLACSO Postgraduate Network coordination has received the final academic program, a brief CV of the professors, and the original signed letter of commitment). The second installment will be paid once classes have concluded and the final evaluation of the Diploma students has been completed.

Payments will be made by bank transfer. These transfers can only be made to a bank account where the account holder, or one of the account holders, is a member of the seminar's teaching team. In all cases, it is essential to present an invoice or equivalent document, in accordance with the legislation in force in the professor's country of residence. The name of the issuer of the invoice must match the name of the bank account holder. No exceptions will be made.

1. The coordinating team will continuously evaluate students, taking into account academic criteria (content, participation in discussions, and the final project) and pedagogical criteria (weighting student participation on the platform and in the forums, among others). To pass, students must participate in 80% of the classes and forums; complete the required assignments and exercises according to the deadlines set by the teaching team; and submit an individual final project.
   
   
2. The coordinating team will establish recovery procedures for work submitted late or that has been disapproved and will specify the criteria for its approval.
   
   
3. It is suggested that the final integrative work be designed taking into account the following evaluation models:
1. Write an essay that brings into dialogue the topics covered in the Diploma with those of the research projects or topics of interest to each student. 
2. Select three modules from the Diploma program, synthesizing and analyzing the learning and discussions that took place based on the questions and bibliography covered in those thematic blocks. Present this analysis in the form of an essay. 
3. Prepare a monograph that integrates the concepts or categories covered in the Diploma.

1. El The final project will be individual. and must have a minimum length of 10 and a maximum length of 15 veneers. 

1. The student will pass with a minimum of 7 points on a scale of 1 to 10. This grade must be accompanied by a qualitative comment.

1. At the end of the Diploma, the coordinators will send CLACSO the numerical grades of all students within a period that cannot exceed two months from the end of its teaching.

To participate in this call for applications, you must complete and submit the following documents online:

• Registration form with details of the coordinating team and the teaching team.

• Proposed program for the Higher Diploma.

Application deadline: February 22, 2024.

1. The evaluation of the proposals will be carried out by a jury composed of members of the Steering Committee and the Executive Secretariat of CLACSO.
   
   
2. All proposals will be reviewed for their formal and administrative aspects by the CLACSO Executive Secretariat to verify their compliance with the terms of reference of the call for proposals. This includes ensuring that the centers to which the postgraduate programs belong are up-to-date with their institutional membership dues. Proposals that meet all the requirements will be sent to the jury for evaluation. 
   
   
3. The coordinators of each of the selected teaching teams will be notified by email and must sign a letter of commitment stipulating the obligations of both parties.
   
   
4. The results will be disseminated through the CLACSO website, social media and electronic mailing lists.