Mission
Developing and advancing humanitarian studies in the Netherlands and internationally, with a special focus on promoting research and education in crisis-affected and vulnerable areas.
The HSC is part of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. The HSC was launched with the stipend attached to the Spinoza price – the highest science award in the Netherlands – that was granted to HSC Director Professor Thea Hilhorst in 2022.
Humanitarian studies concern the study of societies and vulnerable communities experiencing humanitarian crisis. This can originate from disaster, conflict, refugee situations and/ or political collapse.
It studies the causes and impact of crisis; how people, communities and authorities respond to them, including efforts for prevention and preparedness; how humanitarian action and other external interventions are organized and affect the recovery from crises; and the institutional changes that crises and crisis response engender.
Members
The HSC houses three additional institutes
International Humanitarian Studies Association
Founded in 2009 and governed by a board, the IHSA has a community of over 2,000 scholars and practitioners and has organized 7 international conferences.
The Platform for Humanitarian Knowledge Exchange
The Platform for Humanitarian Knowledge Exchange is an initiative of 5 academic institutions and 12 Netherlands-based aid agencies.
The SSRI is a platform for developing, enhancing and disseminating knowledge production and methodologies to effectively address and mitigate the risks and ethical concerns associated with (fieldwork) research.
HSC news
Stay in touch with the HSC
- Email address
- humanitarianstudiescentre@iss.nl