I find my experience of studying the Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice to be both inspiring and extremely grounding. The theories, community experiences, and interdisciplinary approaches, which I have encountered during the program, have influenced how I view justice, equity, and human dignity. The given Program Learning Outcomes are not merely a manifestation of the knowledge I received, but also demonstrate my growth as a learner, researcher, and practitioner. All of these results emphasize the combination of academic study, experiential learning, and personal reflection to enhance my skills in critical thinking, responsible engagement, and meaningful contribution to the work in human rights within local and global settings.
Demonstrate a critical awareness and understanding of the past and present debates that have shaped human rights and social justice issues.
During my master’s program, I established a high level of critical awareness regarding debates surrounding human rights and social justice. My courses on Foundations of Human Rights and Social Justice, Genocide in the 20th Century, Contemporary Capitalism, Settler Colonialism, and Arts, Media, and Dissent broadened my capacity to analyze injustice through multiple theoretical paradigms, including intersectionality, feminism, critical race theory, Indigenous philosophies, and decolonial theory.
The discussions and sharing of knowledge during our class were both helpful and challenging. They inspired me to think critically about my positionality and understand the diverse viewpoints of my colleagues. Similarly, different kinds of assignments like research papers, theory papers, think pieces, and book chapter analyses enhanced my ability to analyze the ways in which power has operated historically and into the present—through colonialism, capitalism, gendered oppression, racialization, and state violence. My understanding about human rights and social justice was based on what I have learned and seen in my home country; understanding these dimensions from a completely different perspective has equipped me with both a solid and critical understanding of the subject matter.
Overall, these experiences helped me to think critically about debates regarding historical dilemmas, from issues such as environmental justice, food systems racism, feminist resistance, and failures of global human rights.
Demonstrate knowledge, through experiential learning, of key human rights and social justice issues locally, nationally, and/or globally:
Our program offered extensive opportunities to connect classroom learning with real-world human rights and social justice issues. We were required to complete our practicum of at least 110 hours as a part of our coursework. I was able to secure my practicum opportunity at the Kamloops Food Policy Council. During my practicum period, I worked on different aspects like survey development, outreach, data collection, and analysis for a community food system survey, gaining hands-on experience that reinforced my academic learning.
Field visits such as the Food Sovereignty Garden, the KFPC Butler Urban Farm, the Residential School, and the Art Gallery grounded my understanding of food sovereignty, Indigenous knowledge, and community resilience. These experiences helped me bridge theory and practice—expanding my understanding of human rights issues across local, national, and global contexts.
Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of and respect for the values of a range of Indigenous knowledge and wisdom.
The Indigenous Ways of Knowing course served as one of the major academic milestones that I achieved during my graduate studies. Through this experience I discovered for the first time the extensive variety and interconnected nature of Indigenous worldviews, which center around Secwépemc philosophy and culture. I was able to examine land acknowledgment as a form of reconciliation and its impact through my final research paper. Through my regular reflections and field visits to important cultural sites, including Kamloops Indian Residential School, I learned that Indigenous knowledge systems operate through bodily practices combining healing, justice, and land-based relationships.
The course Settler Colonialism and Responsibility helped me understand how settler colonial systems maintain their influence over power structures and justice systems and population control mechanisms. My analysis of UNDRIP and the Nepalese constitution for my final project and chapter submissions of Unsettling Canada helped me understand how Indigenous rights movements operate within global political frameworks.
These experiences taught me to work with Indigenous knowledge through humility, relationship building, and accountability. It has also reshaped my understanding of justice beyond Western frameworks.
Demonstrate leadership in recognizing, respecting, and advancing the value of intercultural understanding and worldviews regarding human and environmental diversity.
During my master’s program in Human Rights and Social Justice, I came to see how valuing intercultural understanding can contribute to the promotion of human and environmental diversity. As a Nepali student studying in Canada, my lived experience has helped me to understand how experiences of place, community, justice, and identity are influenced by worldviews. This understanding allows me to engage in learning with humility, curiosity, and a strong commitment to being a respectful learner and contributor.
Leading through this lens meant challenging my own assumptions and limitations of my own worldview and attempting to elevate perspectives that are often less talked about in academic spaces in the north historically, Global South knowledge frameworks. During our group projects and presentations, I contributed to culturally safe and inclusive learning spaces by using my position to prioritize and safeguard diverse perspectives.
This program also enhanced my ability to continue my work in the field of human rights and social justice through a more conscious, empathic, and humble approach in the future. It also inspires me to use my position and privilege to encourage dialogue and create spaces for non-dominant worldviews and diverse perspectives that foster real reconciliation.