General Course - Human Rights and Inclusion

General Course

The General Course of the University of Padua

The University of Padua decided to invest in the construction of inclusive contexts and in the development of professional skills needed to manage an increasingly heterogeneous and complex society. With this in mind, and in the wake of what the best international universities are already doing, the University started a 'General Course', accessible to Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree students. The General Course is aimed to increase awareness about diversity present within our social fabric and about human rights, as well as to stress the need to invest in an inclusive society. The course is offered as an elective discipline for either 6 or 9 credits within the Bachelor’s Degree Course 'Political Sciences, International Relations and Human Rights'. It is also offered as a single course and can be attended by anyone who is interested. The course is held during the second semester.

Why take the course?

  • To acquire good practices and skills required as future workers and citizen
  • To actively participate in the construction of an inclusive University and community
  • To take an interdisciplinary vision in planning and realizing professional collaborations
  • To become a 'defender of inclusion' and obtain the training needed to approach the complexity, changes, challenges, and opportunities with optimism and enthusiasm

For an inclusive culture

An inclusive culture requires the recognition of human dignity, in all its varied expressions, as well as the ability to seize diversity with creative opportunities and to use them to construct challenges for future development.

The application of the principles and values of human rights towards all is essential for full inclusion, especially in societies where discrimination is still tolerated.

Creating an inclusive culture requires that each person, in their uniqueness, effectively holds all fundamental rights and freedoms recognized by International Law and by democratic Constitutions. Some categories of people do not need any further “special” rights, but they rather need “additional” guarantees, positive actions, investments and commitment of resources for the benefit of all. An inclusive culture allows to reduce the structural disadvantages and to ensure the full participation of all individuals in society, enhancing collective well-being.

An inclusive culture must be able to recognize all barriers, not just the architectural ones, that are present in society and that are hidden in language, habits, social prejudices and political choices. An inclusive culture needs to create new forms of support and access to social participation. To create an inclusive culture means to operate in any social context in order to reduce existing obstacles. The challenge of inclusion requires to invest one's own professional energies ans specific skills in favour of new societies.

Programs and registration procedure (italian site)