An initiative of NextGenU.org, Humanitarian U is one of the leading educational organizations globally to deliver professional certification and training to humanitarian workers around the world, anywhere, anytime. Humanitarian U was founded by Dr. Kirsten Johnson in 2011. Humanitarian U’s web-based and face-to-face training programs provide universities, emergency medical teams, non-governmental organizations and individual aid workers with the front-line, field-driven knowledge required to face the most challenging situations with safe and dynamic solutions.
2005
Dr. Kirsten Johnson is part of the founding faculty of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI).
2008
Dr. Johnson works in the field before returning to Canada to start HHI’s sister program at McGill University, the Humanitarian Studies Initiative (HSI).
2011
Dr. Johnson starts Humanitarian U to promote the professionalization of the humanitarian sector by developing globally accessible online training programs.
2015
Humanitarian U launches the first online certification program for humanitarians.
2019
Impact study released – the Impact of eLearning on Humanitarain Aid Work.
2022
Humanitarian U launches 10 new courses to train Humanitarians and becomes an initiative at NextGenU.org.
2023
Humanitarian U is accredited by HPass as a Certified Learning Provider and a Certified Assessment Provider.
2024
Humanitarian U is working with UN agencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar, developing training for local responders using artificial intelligence and advanced translation tools.
Humanitarian U is an Initiative at NextGenU.org. Our mission is to democratize education globally and to improve the health and well-being of humanity and the planet. NextGenU.org promotes research and development of knowledge assets that contribute to solving global challenges related to human and planetary health and education and supports efforts to advance education for all to help people build better lives.