If your career aim is to secure or develop a leading position in an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), this course is ideally suited to your needs.
Academically rigorous and practically applied, the course is designed to help you develop a senior management career in international development, become a board member of an international NGO board, or work in a foundation funding work internationally.
You will focus on the rapidly evolving context of international development. You will explore the implication for NGOs of the trends shaping the sector. How is the role of civil society changing? What will be the impact of altering aid flows, increased funding for humanitarian and security work and shifting North-South relations? How are new digital technologies affecting the way NGOs work? What are the implications of the moves to greater collaboration and the increasing influence of the private sector in the development process?
The aim of the course is to enable you to develop your management, analytical and leadership skills so that you develop a rounded set of competencies that will enable you to flourish at the highest levels in global NGOs.
The MSc course is taught on a part-time basis over a period of two years.
Students initially enrol on the Postgraduate Diploma with the specialist area of their choice, and confirm their intention to complete the MSc at the end of the first year.
As a student you will:
The aim of the NGO Management course is to enable students to develop key management competencies and analytical capabilities needed by those in leadership and management positions in international NGOs.
The course has been developed in partnership with leading INGOs and BOND (the UK-NGO network). It is one of the five postgraduate courses offered by Cass’s Business School’s Centre for Charity Effectiveness. This is one of the only centres of excellence in Europe offering a full range of latest research, education, training and consultancy geared to the needs of voluntary sector managers and leaders.
The course is taught on a part-time basis and is taught over a period of twelve months. The Postgraduate Diploma consists of four core modules that all students take and are common to all the Centre’s postgraduate courses. These core modules provide the essential underpinning of management skills for the specialist courses. Upon successful completion of the diploma you can continue to the MSc Programme.
The MSc requires completion of the Research Methods for Managers module. This is followed by either: a further six months of personal, supervised research and the presentation of a 15,000-word research-based dissertation. Or alternatively, you can opt to take a taught Masters which allows you to choose specialist modules from one of the other Charities programmes.
Experience of past students is that by completing the course increases their employability in the sector, and gives them greater flexibility as to career options. Past students have come from NGOs of all sizes, as well as foundations, business and the public sector.
If you are looking to pivot your career into a management-related field, the MSc in International Management degree program is designed to help you develop your knowledge and skills in management. The NGO and Mission-Based Management Track is designed for students interested in non-profit management.
Non-governmental and mission-based organizations require all the core competencies in finance, strategy, and operations that are relevant for businesses or corporations; but they also require special leadership and negotiation skills for communities and their stakeholders, as well as special resource management skills, particularly human resources. Your core requirements and their practical applications will enable you to develop these capabilities while also providing elective choices in relevant areas like development communications, or politics and policy, as well as more specialized courses such as “Women, Conflict Resolution and International Law” or “Politics and Economics of Global Media,” among many others.
Complement core requirements in leadership, strategy, finance, ethics and operations with the opportunity to delve further into potential areas of interest such as managing global communications, economics, negotiation, and international relations.
Students will learn the skills and tools of project management by using both practical “hands-on” approaches as well as by applying theory to practice. This course guides students through many of the fundamental operations and project management tools and behavioral skills required in both private sector organizations as well as with NGOs and governmental organizations.
The MSc in International Management encourages students to take their education beyond the classroom. Your learning experience is deepened by the opportunity of immersive practica and study trips where you will come into contact with experts in the field. Learn about the NGO practicum in Cambodia.
Graduates from the MSc in International Management go on to meaningful careers in diverse fields across the world. They represent contemporary, forward-thinking managers, engaged leaders for sustainable development, and thoughtful professionals making a difference on the international stage.
As a student you will benefit from hands-on fieldwork and research development as you gain professional skills throughout the duration of your studies. This, together with the rigorous academic training, can lead to jobs in companies across the world. You will be well-prepared to pursue a career in a range of sectors and organization types, including corporations, non-governmental organizations, start-ups, nonprofits and family businesses. View career outcomes for graduates from the MSc in International Management.
The PG Cert in NGO and Development Management via distance learning offers you the opportunity to examine the central issues facing developing countries in today’s globalised world and to learn practical skills to work in development.
This course not only addresses the theories of development but explores how development works at the grassroots.
This allows you to gain a unique set of skills in how development programmes and projects are designed, implemented and managed and it equips you with important understanding of the role that NGOs can play in promoting social and economic progress.
This established course, which has been running for ten years, examines the central issues facing developing countries in today’s globalised world, giving you the skills for a job in development and the wider sectors.
Our aim is to make you an informed and critical development practitioner. You will be equipped with all the practical skills that are demanded by development agencies. You will also gain insight across the wider picture, understanding how developing countries can progress and how the poor can be mobilised to escape from the poverty trap.
The course also explores how NGOs can play a key role in promoting social and economic progress and you will develop the ability to identify, design and implement programmes with a view to engaging with and enhancing the situation of the poor.
Our students and staff are a diverse group from different backgrounds and your tutors have expertise in many key development regions and countries from South Asia and Latin America to Middle East and Africa.
The LLM in Human Rights Law and Practice engages you in a holistic examination of the law, policy, and advocacy of human rights. As such, it provides the substantive knowledge, versatile skills and valuable networks necessary for mid-career professionals and recent graduates to work in the human rights field. The LLM is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis.
The LLM in Human Rights Law and Practice provides the knowledge, skills and networks necessary for mid-career professionals and recent graduates to work in the human rights field. The LLM is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis. Our LLM is distinctive because students:
-Work on real human rights issues, which gives practical skills, hands-on experience and improved job prospects
-Get the opportunity to work alongside human rights defenders during a two-week field visit to Malaysia (student numbers permitting) or placement in York
-Learn from international human rights defenders based at the Centre
-Explore how international human rights law interacts with national public policy in various states
Our core modules enable you to acquire holistic knowledge and the necessary socio-legal skills for a successful career in human rights practice or progression to PhD study. They allow you flexibility to undertake research on those human rights topics which interest you most (e.g. by writing essays, making presentations, or developing an advocacy campaign on a topic of your choice and by undertaking a human rights placement with an organisation that works on a topic of interest).
In the second term, you will be able to choose one optional module from a large variety of courses taught by staff from the Centre of Applied Human Rights (CAHR) or other departments at the University of York. You will have the opportunity to tailor your programme to enhance its interdisciplinary and to explore areas where rights are being used in new and innovative way.
Optional modules taught at the York Law School
Placements
A key part of the LLM is exposing students to the practice of international human rights law at the domestic level. Thus students have the opportunity to pursue a placement and related project with our NGO partners in Malaysia and York. The fieldwork takes place over a two week period in the autumn term, in either Kuala Lumpur or York. Please note that the Malaysia trip/placements will only run if there are sufficient student numbers.
Students will be expected to work together in small groups in partnership with a human rights organisation. This will include:
-Extensive background research on country context, the host organisation, relevant thematic issues etc.
-Devising a project prior to the field visit, in collaboration with the host organisation
-Two weeks of intensive work in Malaysia (student numbers permitting) or York in November and December
-Ongoing discussions about project completion once students return to York
Our LLM provides career advice, networking opportunities, hands-on experience, and personalised reference letters to help our graduates find good jobs with human rights NGOs, humanitarian organisations, charities, policy think-tanks, national governments, and UN agencies.
For example, recent graduates are working with:
-Foreign and Commonwealth Office
-UK-based bar association
-Egyptian human rights NGO
-Development NGO in West Africa
-East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network
-Human Rights Watch
-Pakistan's judicial sector
-UK-based NGO working with sub-Saharan children affected by HIV/AIDS
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Gerontology and Ageing Studies at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
This Gerontology and Ageing Studies course is designed to meet employer needs and prepares students with the knowledge and experience needed to work with older people, design policies, manage and deliver services and manufacture products for an ageing population.
Performance:
- International approach that is unique in the UK
- Hosted in the internationally renowned research centre, the Centre for Innovative Ageing
- The centre is the largest gerontology research centre in Wales and the second largest in the UK
- The Centre hosts the Older People and Ageing Research and Development Network and the Wales Stroke Research Interest Group
- Offers strong national and international links as well as links with the Wales Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network.
Teaching and Employability:
- programme is designed to meet employer needs
- encompasses a range of disciplines delivered by subject leaders and experts from around the world
- opportunities for work placements within local NGO’s (non-Governmental Organisations)
- opportunity to study abroad at one of the College’s partner institutions in Alberta, Canada
The field of ageing is becoming increasingly important: Over the last 25 years the percentage of the population aged 65 and over increased from 15% in 1983 to 16 per cent in 2008, an increase of 1.5 million people in this age group. This trend is projected to continue. By 2033, 23 per cent of the population will be aged 65 and over compared to 18% aged 16 or younger. The fastest population increase has been in the number of those aged 85 and over, the 'oldest old'.
In 2012, the Welsh Government launched the third phase of the Strategy for Older People. Gerontology and Ageing Studies at Swansea looks at policy, practice and application to put you at the forefront of current developments.
Gerontology and Ageing Studies takes a holistic approach. It shifts the central focus from the medical model of ageing, to one that encompasses a range of disciplines including psychology, sociology and demography, viewing ageing more positively.
The course in Gerontology and Ageing draws on the research and expertise of The Centre of Innovative Ageing (CIA) within the College of Human and Health Sciences.
The CIA is at the forefront of interdisciplinary work on ageing and provides the infrastructure, focus and leadership for ageing research across the University. The Centre houses a unique cluster of researchers and lecturers who contribute to each of the postgraduate courses in Gerontology and Ageing studies.
The Gerontology and Ageing Studies course is designed to meet employer needs and prepares students with the knowledge and experience needed to work with older people, design policies, manage and deliver services and manufacture products for an ageing population.
Modules on the Gerontology and Ageing Studies programme typically include:
• Population Ageing and Policy: An Introduction
• Perspectives on Ageing
• Foundations in Research
• Health and Ageing
• Policies and Practices for an Ageing Population
• Older People, Citizenship and Participation
• Critical Practice with Older People
• Environment and Ageing
• Psychology of Ageing
The Gerontology and Ageing Studies course is offered on a full-time or part-time basis.
Full-time students normally complete six modules and submit their dissertation by the end of the first year. Part-time students will normally take two years to complete six modules, and one further year to complete the dissertation.
The MSc in Gerontology and Ageing Studies comprises 6 modules (120 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits). Four compulsory modules (20 credits each) cover the context of population ageing and explore theoretical perspectives on ageing.
Post-Graduate Certificate and Diploma Options in Gerontology and Ageing Studies:
These courses, similar to the MSc, can also be taken on a full-time or part-time basis.
Certificate students will take three modules totalling 60 credits, comprising two compulsory modules and one optional module selected from the College MSc catalogue.
The diploma students will complete the same 120 credits as the MSc but will not be required to complete the 60 credit dissertation.
Both options are flexible for students looking to study specific areas of interest whilst still obtaining a solid foundation in the principles of gerontology. These options provide the perfect alternative for individuals or employers who want the world-leading education provided by the Centre for Innovative Ageing, but for whom the research project is not integral to their learning experience.
Other recent graduates work across a diverse range of sectors including:
- local government
- social worker/social services
- academic and policy research
- insurance and financial services
- architecture and town planning
The College of Human and Health Sciences offers full training in research methodology in addition to the core gerontology education which demonstrate a set of research and analytical skills that are fully transferable and highly desirable to employers.
Although not an assessed component off the course, students are provided with the opportunity to undertake volunteer placements within a local NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation). This enhances the student’s employment options and widens their exposure to the practical field of gerontology. Students who undertake a placement will receive a certificate from the NGO detailing the number of hours of their placement to act as a record for employment and development purposes.
Research undertaken by members of the CIA falls into seven broad themes:
Rights, Equality and Inclusion
Environments of ageing
Environmental hazards – Falls, shared space
Community, intergenerational and family relationships
Technology and its facilitation
Future of ageing
Social care – Health and wellbeing
Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study International Gerontology and Ageing Studies at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).
This degree in International Gerontology and Ageing Studies aims to provide students with a unique insight into the policy differences between the devolved countries of the UK and across the globe.
Performance:
- international approach that is unique in the UK
- hosted in the internationally renowned research centre, the Centre for Innovative Ageing
- the centre is the largest gerontology research centre in Wales and the second largest in the UK
- the Centre hosts the Older People and Ageing Research and Development Network and the Wales Stroke Research Interest Group
- offers strong national and international links as well as links with the Wales Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Network
- connections to policy-makers which are unparalleled in other parts of the UK
Teaching and Employability:
- delivered by subject leaders and experts from around the world
- programme is designed to meet employer needs
- opportunities for work placements within local NGO’s (non-Governmental Organisations)
- opportunity to study abroad at one of the College’s partner institutions in Alberta, Canada
The International Gerontology and Ageing Studies programme acknowledges that ageing is accompanied by biological changes, but takes a holistic approach to ageing. It shifts the central focus from the medical model of ageing, to one that encompasses a range of disciplines including psychology, sociology and demography, viewing ageing more positively.
The MSc in International Gerontology and Ageing draws on the research and expertise of The Centre of Innovative Ageing (CIA) within the College of Human and Health Sciences. The CIA is in the forefront of interdisciplinary work on ageing and provides the infrastructure, focus and leadership for ageing research across the University. The Centre houses a unique cluster of researchers and lecturers who contribute to each of the postgraduate courses in Gerontology and Ageing studies.
The MSc in International Gerontology and Ageing Students is a unique course in the UK and provides students with an extended Master’s degree from a recognised global centre of excellence for gerontological education and research.
Students are immersed in global theories of gerontology and have the opportunity to experience first-hand the practical application of their studies.
Students are supported and mentored by the team at Swansea both whilst at the home and host institutions so there is continuity in the support provided, ensuring that the student gets the most from the experience.
Being hosted in an internationally renowned research centre, the MSc in International Gerontology and Ageing Studies benefits from lectures delivered by subject leaders both domestically and from around the globe.
The course is designed to meet employer needs and prepare students with the knowledge and experience needed to work with older people, design policies, manage and deliver services and manufacture products for an ageing population.
Modules on the International Gerontology and Ageing Studies course typically include:
Population Ageing and Policy: An Introduction
Perspectives on Ageing
Foundations in Research
Health and Ageing
Dissertation
Policies and Practice for an Ageing Population
Critical Practice with Older People
Environment and Ageing
Older People, Citizenship and Participation
Psychology and Ageing
Semester Abroad, University of Alberta
This course is delivered over 18 months, with students studying at Swansea University for one academic year, and then at the University of Alberta, Canada for approximately four months in the second year undertaking three modules of study and assessment to broaden their study and employment possibilities.
Each module provides the opportunity to explore cutting-edge debates and issues on ageing in a global context.
Graduates work across a diverse range of sectors including:
local government
social worker/social services
academic and policy research
insurance and financial services
architecture and town planning
The College of Human and Health Sciences offers full training in research methodology in addition to the core gerontology education which demonstrate a set of research and analytical skills that are fully transferable and highly desirable to employers.
Although not an assessed component off the course, students are provided with the opportunity to undertake volunteer placements within a local NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation). This enhances the student’s employment options and widens their exposure to the practical field of gerontology. Students who undertake a placement will receive a certificate from the NGO detailing the number of hours of their placement to act as a record for employment and development purposes.
Research undertaken by members of the CIA falls into seven broad themes:
Rights, Equality and Inclusion
Environments of ageing
Environmental hazards – Falls, shared space
Community, intergenerational and family relationships
Technology and its facilitation
Future of ageing
Social care – Health and wellbeing
MSc research dissertations and subsequent PhD programmes of research are encouraged and supported within each of these themes.
Staff teaching on the MSc Gerontology and Ageing Studies has expertise in at least one of the research themes of the centre. Through the duration of the course staff are rotated to ensure lectures are given by the person with the most knowledge and experienced in that field.
The College of Human and Health Sciences has a vibrant postgraduate community with students drawn from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. The College is known for its friendly, welcoming and supportive environment, which combined with its extensive facilities, state-of-the-art technology and superb beachside location, helps to ensure that students benefit from an exceptional student experience.
In addition, students have access to a wide range of excellent facilities and equipment for realistic workplace experiences.
Our MA Cybercrime and Terrorism offers students the opportunity to:
This programme focuses on the changing nature of online crime and criminal behaviour in order to understand the threats, trends, issues, responses and ethical questions associated with, for example, terrorism or security. The programme will examine issues related to the cyber-realm from an interdisciplinary and multi-dimensional perspective, offering a unique look at a range of challenges.
The programme benefits from strong relationships with national and international partners (e.g. policy-makers, government and industrial security practitioners, military organisations, communities, and more). Students will have opportunities to engage directly with stakeholders who can provide insights and up-to-the-minute knowledge of the subject area.
If you’re passionate about countering Cybercrime and terrorism, we want to hear from you!
This programme will be of interest to those who are interested in both cybercrime and cybersecurity more generally as well as those seeking specialist study of terrorism. It will be useful for students who have undertaken an undergraduate degree in anything from Criminology or Law to Computer Science and Psychology and who are looking to specialise in this important area. Continuing, mature, international and part-time students would all be welcome for this programme of study.
Public Sector
Both cybercrime and online terrorist activities are key areas of priority for government at all levels.
You'll gain: Knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to law and policy development, programmatic action, the conduct of government (and industry) through regulation, and the arrangement and provision of public services.
Potential graduate destinations: Civil service, regional, national and sub-national government, local authorities and other public bodies, and, political and policy advice work.
Private sector
Cybercrimes and online terrorism are increasingly the concern of the private sector especially those conducting business in digital space.
You'll gain: skills to work for social media companies as well an array of global businesses conducting work in cyberspace.
NGO sector
Non-governmental agencies are well-established stakeholders in cybersecurity and counter-terrorism. Policy advocacy and lobbying, campaigns, and on the ground intervention are all facets of the NGO sector globally, regionally, nationally and locally.
You'll gain: knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to the breadth of work undertaken by the NGO sector in combatting cybercrime and terrorism.
Potential graduate destinations: International NGOs; regional or local level NGOs.
Research and academia
Research on cybercrime and online terrorism is a growing concern for academia. Students graduating from the programme will be at the cutting-edge of these issues globally, regionally and nationally.
You'll gain: The potential to continue to study at PhD level and the knowledge, understanding and skills applicable to teaching and research in the field.
Potential graduate destinations: law enforcement, policy ‘think-tanks’ and HEIs.
MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development aims to train 'hybrid managers' capable of understanding both the job of management in its organisational setting, and the role, management and jargon of information, information systems and information technology.
The course intends to help close the gap of knowledge, skills, culture and language that exists between functional managers and information systems professionals - a gap that results in the majority of information systems, including e-government, e-commerce, and e-development systems, under-performing or becoming failures.
You'll therefore graduate in a strong position to lead the successful development and implementation of new information systems in a wide range of organisations. By the course's end, you will have been provided with:
Informal enquiries, prior to applications, are welcomed. Please contact one of our Programme Directors, Dr Richard Duncombe ( [email protected] ) or Dr Ping Gao ([email protected] ).
An overseas field visit is an integral part of the programme. The cost of the visit is included in the programme fee. In addition, participants may undertake research visits to organisations applying information systems in practice in the UK. Field courses may be scheduled at any point during the twelve-month period of the degree programme and this may include during University vacations. Successful applicants are expected to be available to attend.
Countries to be visited may change their immigration and visa regulations at short notice. The Global Development Institute (GDI) cannot guarantee that where visas are required for the field course, they will be granted. GDI will ensure that, in the unlikely event this occurs, affected students are not academically disadvantaged.
Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 24 months. There are NO evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director first and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off. Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.
The taught elements of the programme, carrying 120 credits overall is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (project based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.
Participants must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice approved by the Programme Directors. Students are encouraged to base their dissertations on topics of direct professional concern to themselves.
'Prior to obtaining admission to the University of Manchester, I evaluated the MIS Program offered by GDI very vigilantly and identified the potential of this program in the professional market. I feel that the MSc MIS helped me in polishing my analytical and problem solving skills and bring me inline with the best practices of the Management in Information Technology field. that are necessary to accomplish my job diligently'.
'I decided to study the MSc MIS course at the University of Manchester to enhance my professional skills and (as a result) improve my career opportunities. The MSc MIS program provided my primary requirements - a well-balanced curriculum combining both project management and information systems issues.
After completing the course, I can frankly confirm that the knowledge and the skills I have gained have contributed significantly to my career progression.
I would especially mention the provision of a broad range of optional modules to study - from International Management, Human Resource Practice and Organizational Development - to e-Government, Change Management and Business Process Re-engineering and the truly international environment in GDI with students and lecturers from many different countries
Completing the course has improved my career opportunities, enhanced my professional value on the market and helped me to become a successful employee at Cisco'.
The Arthur Lewis Building provides excellent resources including analytical laboratories, studio facilities, workshops, seminar rooms, an on-site cafe and dedicated computer clusters including GIS facilities.
Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: [email protected]
This programme is designed to develop two groups: functional managers who wish to take greater control over, and make a more direct contribution to, change in their organisations via the development and implementation of information systems; and information systems professionals who wish to improve the success rate of the information systems they develop or use, and who may also wish to upgrade their management skills and knowledge.
It will be relevant to those with career trajectories in the private, public, and NGO sectors, and it is particularly appropriate for those working in or with newly developed, transitional and developing countries. Our graduates have an impressive career record in the UK or in their home countries.
GDI has a large and diverse postgraduate population, with 85% of our students drawn from outside the UK, particularly from Africa, Asia and Western Europe, but also reaching out to Latin America, the Middle East, North America and the Pacific. Graduates from the MSc M&IS programme have gone on to careers that typically incorporate a mix of management, information systems and information technology responsibilities such as business analysis, change management, and e-business and e-government roles with public, private and NGO sector organisations. Others have pursued further academic study leading to a PhD and academic/research consulting careers. Since its foundation, GDI has trained over 7000 individuals from 170 different countries.
This MA programme is dedicated to the study of sport as a tool for international development. It considers the ways in which sport can be used to tackle a range of social welfare issues, and how development has come about through sport policy worldwide.
A particular focus of the course is on the evolving role of sport in the field of international development and this is brought to life by practical work with INGOs. It considers the conceptual and ideological dimensions of this rapidly expanding sector, and looks to evaluate those action-based interventions that aim to address inequalities and ameliorate conflict in seriously divided societies.
The course is led by Dr Thomas Carter, who is a leading authority in this area with his work on labour migration, human trafficking, and governance in sport. Dr Carter heads a group of internationally renowned staff with a variety of research interests, including Professor John Sugden who is internationally renowned for his work in the field of sport for development and peace.
In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, the school was awarded the highest score of any social-scientific sports submission and the university's Football for Peace programme was identified as a national exemplar of research impact in sport. Students have the opportunity to be part of these continued efforts and investigations.
You'll study sport and international development using a critical social science perspective, drawing on sociology, history, geography, politics, anthropology, philosophy and cultural studies in practical, real-world situations. The course is designed to maximise your opportunities to gain professional experience whilst studying.
Core modules
You will be expected to be working with an NGO or other development organisation as part of your course work for the Evidence Building and Professional-Based Learning modules. This can include working with our partners or an NGO of your choice.
You may also incorporate practical experience in to your Final Project and your option module choice.
Options
Additional qualifications
During your studies you are able to undertake Football for Peace (F4P) training which leads to a Tier 1 Trainers' qualification. The qualification will enable you to become a volunteer coach on F4P international programmes.
These trips are self-funded and you will therefore be expected to raise funds to cover travel costs.
It may be possible to also study for other qualifications during your course.
Networking opportunities
During your studies there will be opportunities to attend professional events and conferences and you will be encouraged to take advantage of these for networking.
It may also be possible to incorporate a period of studying abroad.
This degree serves to position graduates in the growing field of sport and international development. It provides the requisite knowledge and skills for employment with international NGOs and other deliverers of sport and development projects. It also allows you to progress to an MPhil or a PhD.
Previous students have secured work as university lecturers, press officers, policy officers and sport development officers in the UK and overseas.
The Disasters, Adaptation & Development MA, MSc course takes a social development perspective, exploring topics such as human vulnerability, response to natural and technological hazards and to hazards associated with climate change. You will examine disaster risk reduction and choose from a wide range of modules, enabling you to build a study pathway that can include technical specialities in GIS and remote sensing, organisational risk management, or poverty alleviation and international development.
The Disasters, Adaptation & Development MA/MSc aims to equip students with an in-depth and critical awareness of the political, geographical and technological aspects of disaster risk reduction and their contribution to sustainable adaptation and disaster responses. Taking a social development perspective, the course covers issues such as human vulnerability and responses to natural and technological hazards. This course embeds training in disaster risk reduction with technical specialities in geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing, organisational risk management, or poverty alleviation and international development.
The study course is made up of optional and required modules. You must take the minimum of 180 credits to complete the course. In addition to a required dissertation, you will choose from a wide range of related modules. If you want to qualify with an MSc, you will be required to study Advanced Quantitative and Spatial Methods in Human Geography as an additional module.
If you are studying full-time, you will complete the course in one year, from September to September. If you are studying part-time, your course will be delivered over two years. You will take a combination of required and optional modules over this period of time, with the dissertation in your second year.
Teaching
We will teach you through a combination of lectures and seminars, and you will typically have 20 hours of this per 20 credit module. We also expect you to undertake 180 hours of independent study for each module, although some modules in the Geography Department may involve lab work or e-learning which would require less self-guided learning. For your 12,000 word dissertation, we will provide four workshops and five hours of one-to-one supervision to complement your 587 hours of independent study. Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
Performance on taught modules in the Geography Department is normally assessed through essays and other written assignments, oral presentations, lab work and occasionally by examination, depending on the modules selected. All students also undertake a research-based dissertation of 12,000 words.
The Disasters, Adaptation and Development degree aims to provide technical training and professional exposure. Both are needed to secure careers in humanitarian and development organisations. Professional exposure and networking is delivered through four mechanisms:
1. Environmental Internship. This is a stand alone module based on one to two weeks full-time equivalent working in a host organisation: usually a Humanitarian or Development NGO headquaters office in London or as part of a research team working on disaster risk within the Department of Geography. The student will undertake a defined task, typically a literature or policy review to feed into policy development work. The module is assessed by a reflective essay on the experience and lessons learned. The internship is appropriate for those wishing an introduction to professional life in the sector, some internships can turn into thesis research ideas.
2. Thesis placements. These allow students to undertake their three month research project within an international humanitarian or development NGO in the field. Current partners include the Red Cross Climate Centre, Oxfam, Save the Children, YCARE and the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute. Students propose thesis ideas and these are crafted with host organisations to make sure they meet academic criteria and policy impact goals. Typically thesis research is translated into a policy brief. Host organisation commitments vary but all local costs (translation, accommodation, transport) are covered, and often international transport costs as well. An example of a thesis internship can be found here.
3. Post-degree internships. Increasingly employers look for experience and are also prepared to offer paid internships. We only partner with internship providers providing at least basic living costs. Current internships providers are the Stockholm Environment Institute - Asia and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, both based in Bangkok. Post degree internships are three months commencing in September - think about this being a 15 month degree where you get paid for the final three months!
4. Networking events. because the Disasters, Adaptation and development programme is associated with King's Centre for Integrated Research on Risk and Resilience (CIRRR) students are encouraged to attend its seminars and social events. Monthly meetings and occasional seminars help to integrated masters students with researchers and policy actors with many opportunities to become informally involved in research and outreach.
On this unique master's degree you will develop your international management skills. You will do this alongside the study of international relations and the current economic, political and social situation. This will increase your understanding of the global environment in which the business, government and non-governmental organisation (NGO) sectors function.
This course is ideal if you are looking to work within a policy development role, to become a manager in the business, government or NGO sectors or are seeking to study further.
Compulsory modules
Optional modules
Please see the course structure chart.
Much of the teaching on the course takes the form of interactive workshops, but there are also lectures from staff and visiting speakers. Lectures, discussions, role-play exercises and seminars are linked with selected case studies and assessments to strengthen your practical analysis and decision-making skills. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in working as part of a team through structured group assignments.
Teaching staff at the Business School are researchers and/or come from an industry background with an in-depth practical experience of business and management issues. Visiting speakers from business, industry, consultancies and research bodies provide further input. Research is fundamental to the International Relations Department and you will be taught by a team of research-active scholars who are all specialists and publish in their areas of expertise.
Each module is assessed using a range of different methods including examinations, assignments, individual or group reports and group presentations. This range of assessments will help you to develop the analytical and presentational that employers within different organisations look for.
At Headington we have developed outstanding facilities. Our John Henry Brookes Building is the most significant project in the history of Oxford Brookes University. Set at the heart of our Headington campus, it has been designed for the future of higher education and has transformed the experiences of our students and the entire University community. Find out more about the John Henry Brookes Building.
We have invested over £30m to create modern teaching and learning facilities and creating a new home at Headington for the Business School.
Completed in 2017 it contains:
Our library provides specialist business resources (both hard copy and via online access) to UK and overseas companies' annual reports, statistics on all aspects of business and management, a wide range of constantly updated key texts, and postgraduate MA, MBA, MSc and PhD theses.
By listening to our students and recognising the need for practice-oriented business and management education, we have introduced new ways to engage with companies from the public and the non-profit sector. You will have the opportunity to visit various company sites organised through our extensive network of corporate contacts and the Chartered Management Institute. We also host a number of guest speakers throughout the year who bring their business and management experience and expertise to the classroom.
We offer an International Business in Practice Study Trip module. The purpose of this study trip is to give postgraduate students a hands-on, intensive experience with the ideas and practices of global business. The programme will include presentations from local management executives and experts. Students will have direct interaction with management executives and practices through site visits to major corporations and agencies.
This study trip is voluntary and all costs associated with the trip will need to be funded by you. It is not linked to university assessments in any way. If you successfully complete this module you will have the following non-credit bearing module recorded on your transcript: P58335 International Business in Practice: Study Trip.
Field trips are optional and incur a cost.
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