Masters Degrees (Organisational Development)

To register interest and for more information on the programme, please contact Dr Christine Oliver [email protected] m +44 (0)7803 987940 or Dr Martin Miksits [email protected] m +43 (0)660 4444009.

Course information leaflet - PDF 217.0 KB http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/259701/SystemicLeadership032015.pdf

Course Summary

The different ways in which systemic leadership and consulting practices respond to organisational challenges and personal, relational and development issues is a key element of this course, which will help you develop insights into systemic organisational practice and theory.

Developed for corporate and business leaders in health or care settings, social and community workers, religious leaders and other professionals, it will enable you to take a step-change in your leadership practice.

Intermediate qualifications available:

- Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Masters level

Choose Systemic Leadership and Organisational Development MSc at Bedfordshire and:

- Study how different paradigms influence ways of leading, consulting, coaching, organising and managing change and development in organisations
- Explore current research and advanced scholarship in systemic and related fields, including a range of theoretical frameworks and approaches in relation to systemic practice and research methodologies
- Develop systemic coaching and consultation techniques so that you can ethically engage with, explore and expand possibilities for communication and action in an organisational context
- Gain reflexive leadership skills so you can observe, discuss, critique and draw learning from your own practice, with a particular focus on issues surrounding power, diversity and social difference
- Benefit from the creative use of a range of inquiry techniques in leadership and consulting situations in ways that serve to ethically intervene in unfolding possibilities in organisations.

Why choose this course?

This course on systemic leadership and organisational development is distinctive in its approach to learning, the transformational experience it offers, the development of practical skills and its ethos. To point to some of these features more specifically the course offers:

Comprehensive and practical systemic frameworks that help you to orientate in complex organisational situations and work effectively and ethically as leader or consultant from within such situations.

Development of relational sensibilities and skills in listening and talking with others in ways that invite understanding, orientation, direction and commitment.

An opportunity to make practical ethical contributions to your organisation whilst you are studying, and in the process developing your role and position in relation to others.

A transformational experience that changes your way of making sense of your organisational `reality and your contribution from within it. The course is likely to also change your sense of professional identity and agency in the world.

Development of scholarship in systemic social constructionist approaches which are increasingly recognised as contributing to cutting edge thinking and practising in the field of organisation studies and development.

An opportunity to take stock of the resources and resourcefulness you bring to the course and build them into your learning practice and experience.

Career Management Skills

The course helps your employability and career management in developing your abilities:

to account for your practice as leader or consultant facilitating the development of organisations and the achievement of objectives
to engage with and make sense of a job opportunity from a wider contextual awareness and mindfulness of the organisation as whole.
to engage with the emergent possibilities rather than only the set properties of a particular job or position
to use your reflective skills to account for your own practice, abilities and experience and how these contribute to developments in coherent and compelling ways.

Career/Further study opportunities

As participants on this course come from diverse backgrounds and experiences it is impossible to point to specific career moves. However the course is likely to be instrumental unlocking career opportunities in several ways:

The course develops you as relational leader who participates with agency and relational responsiveness in your emerging organisation. It will equip you to facilitate and co-create meaning making in your organisation but also to critically reflect on current organisational practice and promote ethical practice. This includes making sense of the organisation as a whole and in your every day practice acting with relational sensibility, poise and practical wisdom.

You will become an agent for change, development and organisational learning who contributes to your organisation or your clients organisation from different systemic consultancy positions, by becoming a reflexive learner yourself, by critically and appreciatively engaging in the process of organisational development and change, and by designing, facilitating and evaluating development interventions to achieve organisational aims.

You will form an identity as a systemic organisational research practitioner with your own research experience and contribution to ethical organisational practice through inquiry and a critical appreciation of different forms of inquiry as instrumental to the emergence of an organisation and the people in it. This will be paramount to taking responsibility for the design and conduct of further research and research programmes and the promotion of ethical organisational practice through forms of inquiry.

Possibilities for further study: Some graduates decide to expand and deepen their systemic insight and practice through a Professional Doctorate in Systemic Practice. Other graduates may want to apply and amalgamate their systemic skills and insight in studying subject matters related to their field of practice e.g. human resource management, business or public administration, education, social work, project management and so on.

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The different ways in which systemic leadership and consulting practices respond to organisational challenges and personal, relational and development issues is a key element of this course, which will help you develop insights into systemic organisational practice and theory.

Developed for corporate and business leaders in health or care settings, social and community workers, religious leaders and other professionals, it will enable you to take a step-change in your leadership practice.

Intermediate qualifications available:
• Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Masters level

Why choose this course?

• Study how different paradigms influence ways of leading, consulting, coaching, organising and managing change and development in organisations
• Explore current research and advanced scholarship in systemic and related fields, including a range of theoretical frameworks and approaches in relation to systemic practice and research methodologies
• Develop systemic coaching and consultation techniques so that you can ethically engage with, explore and expand possibilities for communication and action in an organisational context
• Gain reflexive leadership skills so you can observe, discuss, critique and draw learning from your own practice, with a particular focus on issues surrounding power, diversity and social difference
• Benefit from the creative use of a range of inquiry techniques in leadership and consulting situations in ways that serve to ethically intervene in unfolding possibilities in organisations.

Course detail

This course on systemic leadership and organisational development is distinctive in its approach to learning, the transformational experience it offers, the development of practical skills and its ethos. To point to some of these features more specifically the course offers:

• Comprehensive and practical systemic frameworks that help you to orientate in complex organisational situations and work effectively and ethically as leader or consultant from within such situations.

• Development of relational sensibilities and skills in listening and talking with others in ways that invite understanding, orientation, direction and commitment.

• An opportunity to make practical ethical contributions to your organisation whilst you are studying, and in the process developing your role and position in relation to others.

• A transformational experience that changes your way of making sense of your organisational `reality and your contribution from within it. The course is likely to also change your sense of professional identity and agency in the world.

• Development of scholarship in systemic social constructionist approaches which are increasingly recognised as contributing to cutting edge thinking and practising in the field of organisation studies and development.

• An opportunity to take stock of the resources and resourcefulness you bring to the course and build them into your learning practice and experience.

Modules

• Designing, Facilitating And Sustaining Systemic Organisational Development (ASS054-6) Compulsory
• Dissertation In Systemic Organisational Practice (ASS056-6) Compulsory
• Systemic Leadership And Organisational Development - Principles And Applications (ASS051-6) Compulsory
• Systemic Research Methods: Positions, Actions And Interventions (ASS055-6) Compulsory
• The Leader And Consultant As Systemic Coach (ASS052-6) Compulsory
• The Reflexive Leader/Consultant Within Organisational Complexity (ASS053-6) Compulsory

Assessment

Central to the learning on the course are assignments for systemic practice which relate directly to the content focus of the respective units. Assignments provide you with a structure to make your learning relevant to your work place, using systemic approaches to make sense of situations, engaging with or collaborating with others, supporting others, facilitating developments and so forth. The course structure facilitates you in the development of your assignments through teaching, practice and formative exercises and tutorials.

Assignments create possibilities to learn from action and reflection and provide the opportunity for valuable feedback for your learning. You will account for assignments in seminar papers, presentations or performances that explore how the assignment connects to the course unit, how systemic practice and theory have been applied, provide insight into the specific practice, explore the developments that emerge from it and the learning it creates.

Assessments of seminar papers and presentations provide an opportunity to consolidate and share learning from the course and practice and provide another level of feedback, reflection and discussion on practice learning.

Careers

The course helps your employability and career management in developing your abilities:

• to account for your practice as leader or consultant facilitating the development of organisations and the achievement of objectives
• to engage with and make sense of a job opportunity from a wider contextual awareness and mindfulness of the organisation as whole.
• to engage with the emergent possibilities rather than only the set properties of a particular job or position
• to use your reflective skills to account for your own practice, abilities and experience and how these contribute to developments in coherent and compelling ways.

Funding

For information on available funding, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/money/scholarships/pg

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/course/applicationform

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Sustainable development, or development that balances economic, social, and environmental aspects, is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can be powerful tools in helping to achieve this.

The ICT for Development (ICT4D) specialism is a strand within the established and highly successful MSc Practising Sustainable Development. It is offered jointly by the Politics, Development and Sustainability (PDS) Group and the UNESCO Chair/Centre in ICT4D at Royal Holloway, University of London.

This ICT4D Masters strand takes a global perspective on sustainable development and the role of ICTs; placed at the interface of research and practice, it is designed for those who want to launch or further their careers as development practitioners or scholars. It combines cutting-edge teaching on ICT4D with rigorous training in the broader field of sustainable development, to provide a well-rounded perspective on current and future development challenges. This degree extends knowledge, develops key skills and optimises career prospects.

The course is also offered at Postgraduate Diploma level for those who do not have the academic background necessary to begin an advanced Master’s degree. The structure of the Diploma is identical except that you will not write a dissertation. If you are successful on the Diploma you may transfer to the MSc, subject to academic approval.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/geography/coursefinder/mscpgdippsdict4d.aspx

Why choose this course?

- This is an intellectually exciting and inspiring course, drawing on both physical and social sciences, which attracts a diverse, international group of students.

- Our teaching staff are leading international experts and have wide experience in different developing regions and economies in transition, including Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia, East Asia and South-East Asia.

- You will benefit from small group learning and an intense but friendly atmosphere, and will receive individual mentoring and career advice from our staff (both from your personal tutor and a dissertation supervisor).

- You will receive an internationally renowned University of London degree, giving you a solid foundation for a career in the field of development and/or environment.

- The course will provide you with training in the skills needed to research and assess ICT for development. These include research design, project development, geographic information systems, remote sensing, participatory methods, project analysis and evaluation.

Department research and industry highlights

The UNESCO Chair/Centre in ICT4D at Royal Holloway is an interdisciplinary centre involving staff in Geography, Management, Computer Science and Earth Sciences. One of the world leaders in its field, with 17 affiliated staff and 18 PhD students, it is a vibrant research community embedded in both the College and the international ICT4D Collective of ICT4D practitioners. It has excellent links with NGOs, businesses and international organisations. Friendly and diverse, it is an exciting place to study and network with other ICT4D experts.

The Politics, Development and Sustainability (PDS) group consists of over 20 research-active staff, 35 PhD students and 50 Master’s students on four MSc programmes. We are committed to conducting collaborative research which seeks to understand and contribute to addressing problems of social inequality, environmental destruction and injustice. The breadth of its members’ research places it in an ideal position to contribute to theoretical and policy debates on key challenges facing Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean today.

Course content and structure

The course is divided into three compulsory elements; theory, policy and practice; research training; and a dissertation. Students studying for the Postgraduate Diploma do not undertake the dissertation.

Core course units:
Sustainability, Development and Governance
This course will equip students with a detailed understanding of the development of sustainable development as a discourse. Students will explore key sustainability issues such as climate change, globalisation, and human responses with an emphasis on the emergence of environmental governance as a means to pursue sustainability.

Technology and Development
This course provides you with an introduction to the role of technology in development, focusing particularly on mobile phone and computer technologies. The course combines an understanding of key theoretical debates and how technologies have been applied in diverse sectors such as health and education. The course also includes training in the use of GIS (geographical information systems) within a development context.

ICT4D
This course gives you the opportunity to develop deeper understandings of cutting-edge applications of ICT4D research and practice. Topics covered include environmental change and Green ICT, open development and subversive forms of technology use, and logics of inclusion and exclusion in ICT programmes. You will also examine project planning, monitoring and evaluation in the field of ICT4D.

Participatory Research
This course combines detailed understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of participatory research and methods with practical experience of using different participatory research techniques. These include participatory diagramming, participatory video and participatory environmental monitoring.

Research Training
You will be provided with training in a range of methods to enable you to plan, carry out and complete a piece of research. There are three modules in this element:
- Social Research Methods Training - provides a range of social science methods for field research and analysis.
- Quantitative Methods for Graduates - provides basic statistical concepts and procedures used in empirical research.
- Development and Environment Research Training - provides guidance for planning, developing and undertaking research in a development and environment context.

Dissertation (MSc only)
The dissertation is of between 12,000 and 15,000 words, on a topic of your choice which has been approved by the supervisor. It requires both secondary and primary research, and the demonstration of originality in integrating theoretical and practical research methods in tackling a particular problem. You will be encouraged to carry out your dissertation in collaboration with an organisation in the field of development and environment.

Community Volunteer Project
You will undertake an independent volunteer project which will give you practical experience in gaining sustainability related work experience in a non-for profit organisation. The project will enhance your employability whilst and provide an opportunity to gain practical experience of third sector organisational objectives, cultures and practices.

Elective course units:
Sustainability, Development and Society
You will develop a detailed understanding of key social / environmental relationships incorporating contemporary issues in the geographies of sustainability. These will include 'risk society', sustainable cities, and the impacts of corporate sector activities on the environment. You will also understand the challenges to sustainable development at household and community levels, with a focus on community-based approaches to sustainable development.

Business Ethics and Enterprise
The aim of the course is to equip students with the moral frameworks and critical abilities necessary to understand the role of business in society from an ethical perspective. The course will cover different types of business including large publicly traded multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, social enterprises and family firms. Students will be expected to understand the different issues in these organizational types and to articulate moral arguments from a range of different perspectives.

International Sustainability Management
This course provides participants with an understanding of how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) informs sustainability management issues in large, transnational organisations. It will focus on issues such as consumption and sustainability as dichotomised between the apparently incompatible tensions of economic and environmental interests.

Other courses Geopolitics and Security / PIR / Management / Computer Science

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- an understanding at an advanced level of the relationships between, and complexities of, social, economic, political and environmental aspects of sustainable development and ICT4D

- an understanding at an advanced level of how the key issues in sustainable development theory and ICT4D influence policy and impact on practice

- the ability to critically analyse complex or contradictory areas of knowledge in aspects of sustainable development.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

Past students of the MSc Practising Sustainable Development are now employed by international development and/or environment agencies, national government in their countries, national programmes and implementing agencies, higher education institutions, consultancies, private sector businesses, social enterprises and NGOs; as environmental and development policy-makers, managers, workers, activists, teachers and researchers. Many of our alumni are also currently undertaking doctoral programmes in the UK and abroad.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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The MSc in Human Resource Development (International Development) enables you to critically understand the role of human resource development (HRD) in enhancing performance within your own institutions and societies. Emphasis is placed on how HRD can support economic and social advancement by improving public services, and in building capabilities within individuals, organisations and communities to effectively cope with social change. The programme aims to develop students' critical appreciation of globalisation processes, policy initiatives and development management plans to support skills development, competitiveness and human capabilities, including development issues associated with eradicating gender inequalities, fostering human well being and maintaining sustainable livelihoods.

The course aims to develop your professional understanding of HRD strategies and development tools to support skill and knowledge acquisition, and build organization and community capabilities. A focus on developing human knowledge and skills enables you to appreciate how education supports skills development. Students also acquire knowledge of the role of International Organizations (through governments and MNCs) such as the World Bank and the UN in supporting education and development initiatives. There is a strong emphasis on acquiring cross cultural leadership knowledge, relevant for many social change and development projects in the public sector, or in the private sector, MNCs, NGOs or international organizations like the World Bank The objectives are that, by the end of the programme, participants will have:
-Knowledge and understanding of the linkage between international development, education and HRD practices and policies

-Knowledge of how approaches to national human resource development affect organisation and societal performance in developing and transitional economies

-Knowledge and understanding of comparative education policy and governance frameworks, for capacity building, the political economy of skills formation and how national HRD training systems affect organization, industrial and societal development, including gender national planning

-Knowledge of globalisation and cross-cultural factors affecting the application of HRD theories and methods in developing, transitional and newly industrialised countries

-An understanding of HRD and development policies in diverse geographic regions and how they enhance human capabilities and support poverty reduction, empowerment, help eradicate gender inequality and advance human well being especially within transitional and developing country contexts

-A critical understanding of cutting edge international HRD policies including talent management, knowledge management, private sector management and entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social justice and ethics, social capital, and strategies for managing inequality including gender and other differences

-Knowledge of leadership for development (lead4dev) and different HRD strategies for the building of leadership skills in the workplace/society, especially those from disadvantaged/marginalized groups including the poor and women

-An understanding of how to analyse and design HRD strategies at societal and organisational level, including gender national planning and empowerment

The programme is designed for individuals of any professional background in international organisations, public administration, transnational organisations and private sector companies who are involved in the HRD, leadership and capacity planning aspects of organisations in developing and transitional countries. These may include managers/leaders of HRD/training/learning, HRD and education in government administration; direct trainers, staff of training centres, staff involved in human development planning in governments; HRD and Leadership consultants involved in change projects, change consultants involved in community development; NGO managers and line managers concerned with the development of their staff.

Aims

You will gain:
-Knowledge and understanding of the linkage between international development and HRD practices and policies
-Knowledge of globalisation and cross-cultural actors affecting the application of HRD and education theories and methods in developing, transitional and newly industrialised countries
-Knowledge of education and HRD interventions and their role in building leadership skills and capacity
-Knowledge of how approaches to national human resource development (NHRD) affect organisation and societal performance in developing and transitional economies
-Knowledge of how new approaches to HRD strategies including private sector management and development, social capital, knowledge management, gender planning affect the context for competence and performance enhancement in organisations and societies
-Understanding of how to analyse and design HRD strategies at societal and organisational level
-Understanding of your own learning and leadership skills and how they may be improved

Special features

The course usually includes a field visit to a UK or overseas destination, enabling you to visit public sector organisations, companies and agencies to learn about HRD systems and practices. The cost of the visit is included in the course fee.

Career opportunities

Graduates acquire a range of skills and knowledge valuable in the global economy and relevant for a variety of professional careers in international development. Recent graduates have gained positions including: HRD consultants/managers/directors in Ministries of HRD or Ministries of Education and as NGO Leaders (Middle East, Thailand, Indonesia, Latin America); Knowledge Management Consultants (Middle East, Canada); university HRD and training directors (Middle East, Africa); leadership and capacity development advisors in the public sector (Africa, Asia), education and HRD leadership consultants (Pakistan, Middle East). Some go on to work for the UN or World Bank, for example, gender and HRD specialist, or capacity building advisers (Kazakhstan, India, USA, China) and development project leaders (Nigeria). Some students progress to PhD study and a career in academia.

The course is unique as it demonstrates understanding of institutional HRD practices within the context of globalisation, social change and economic development so graduates acquire relevant development, HRD, leadership and education knowledge for directing culture and social change.

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Interest in development, environment and issues of sustainable development has never been so intense. UN climate change summits , Millennium Development Goals and the World Social Forum have brought environmental and development issues and problems long on local and national agendas, onto the international scene.

All sustainable development issues are a complex and dynamic web of natural, social, political and economic processes, and it is this unique interdisciplinary approach which drives the MSc in Practising Sustainable Development. This popular course has evolved and expanded in scope and appeal, and has attracted students from about 30 countries and a diverse range of backgrounds who work or are interested in development issues and the environment.

This course is also offered at Postgraduate Diploma level for those who do not have the academic background necessary to begin an advanced Master’s degree. The structure of the Diploma is identical except that you will not write a dissertation. If you are successful on the Diploma you may transfer to the MSc, subject to academic approval.

See the website https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/geography/coursefinder/mscpgdippractisingsustainabledevelopment.aspx

Why choose this course?

- Our teaching staff have wide experience in different developing regions and economies in transition, including Latin America, the Caribbean, South, East and South-East Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Staff have also worked with indigenous and marginalised communities in North America.

- You will benefit from a diverse range of teaching and learning strategies including tutor-led discussions and seminars, oral presentations, role-playing, problem-solving and group work.

- You will be well prepared for a career in the development and environment field as the course is very highly regarded.

- The course can be used as part of an ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) research training pathway for PhD study. This indicates that the content and approach of our academic research training is of a very high standard.

- You will be provided with training in skills needed to research and assess sustainable development, such as research design, project development, environmental monitoring, geographic information systems (GIS), participatory

Department research and industry highlights

The Politics, Development and Sustainability (PDS) group consists of over 20 research-active staff, 35 PhD students and 50 Master’s students on four MSc programmes. We are committed to conducting collaborative research which seeks to understand and contribute to addressing problems of social inequality, environmental destruction and injustice. The breadth of its members’ research places it in an ideal position to contribute to theoretical and policy debates on key challenges facing Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean today.

Course content and structure

The course is divided into three compulsory elements. Students studying for the Postgraduate Diploma do not undertake the dissertation.

Core course units:
Sustainability, Development and Governance
This course will equip students with a detailed understanding of the development of sustainable development as a discourse. Students will explore key sustainability issues such as climate change, globalisation, and human responses with an emphasis on the emergence of environmental governance as a means to pursue sustainability.

Technology and Development
This course provides you with an introduction to the role of technology in development, focusing particularly on mobile phone and computer technologies. The course combines an understanding of key theoretical debates and how technologies have been applied in diverse sectors such as health and education. The course also includes training in the use of GIS (geographical information systems) within a development context.

Sustainability, Development and Society
You will develop a detailed understanding of key social / environmental relationships incorporating contemporary issues in the geographies of sustainability. These will include \'risk society\', sustainable cities, and the impacts of corporate sector activities on the environment. You will also understand the challenges to sustainable development at household and community levels, with a focus on community-based approaches to sustainable development.

Participatory research
This course combines detailed understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of participatory research and methods with practical experience of using different participatory research techniques. These include participatory diagramming, participatory video and participatory environmental monitoring.

Research Training
You will be provided with training in a range of methods to enable you to plan, carry out and complete a piece of research. There are three modules in this element:
- Social Research Methods Training - provides a range of social science methods for field research and analysis.
- Quantitative Methods for Graduates - provides basic statistical concepts and procedures used in empirical research.
- Development and Environment Research Training - provides guidance for planning, developing and undertaking research in a development and environment context.

Dissertation (MSc only)
The dissertation is of between 12,000 and 15,000 words, on a topic of your choice which has been approved by the supervisor. It requires both secondary and primary research, and the demonstration of originality in integrating theoretical and practical research methods in tackling a particular problem. You will be encouraged to carry out your dissertation in collaboration with an organisation in the field of development and environment.

Community Volunteer Project
You will undertake an independent volunteer project which will give you practical experience in gaining sustainability related work experience in a non-for profit organisation. The project will enhance your employability whilst and provide an opportunity to gain practical experience of third sector organisational objectives, cultures and practices.

Elective course units:
ICT4D
This course gives you the opportunity to develop deeper understandings of cutting-edge applications of ICT4D research and practice. Topics covered include environmental change and Green ICT, open development and subversive forms of technology use, and logics of inclusion and exclusion in ICT programmes. You will also examine project planning, monitoring and evaluation in the field of ICT4D.

Business Ethics and Enterprise
The aim of the course is to equip students with the moral frameworks and critical abilities necessary to understand the role of business in society from an ethical perspective. The course will cover different types of business including large publicly traded multinationals, small and medium sized enterprises, social enterpises and family firms. Students will be expected to understand the different issues in these organizational types and to articulate moral arguments from a range of different perspectives.

International Sustainability Management
This course provides participants with an understanding of how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) informs sustainability management issues in large, transnational organisations. It will focus on issues such as consumption and sustainability as dichotomised between the apparently incompatible tensions of economic and environmental interests.

Other courses Geopolitics and Security / PIR / Management / Computer science

On completion of the course graduates will have:
- an understanding at an advanced level of the relationships between, and complexities of, social, economic, political and environmental aspects of sustainable development

- an understanding at an advanced level of how the key issues in sustainable development theory influence policy and impact on practice

- the ability to critically analyse complex or contradictory areas of knowledge in aspects of sustainable development.

Assessment

Assessment is carried out by a variety of methods including coursework and a dissertation.

Employability & career opportunities

Past students of the course are now employed by international development and environment agencies, national policy making and implementing agencies, higher education institutions, private sector natural resource companies and NGOs; as environmental and development workers, activists, teachers and researchers. Many of our alumni are also currently undertaking doctoral programmes in the UK and abroad.

How to apply

Applications for entry to all our full-time postgraduate degrees can be made online https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studyhere/postgraduate/applying/howtoapply.aspx .

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INTRODUCTION

With increasing recognition of the impact of a world living beyond its means, the commitment to sustainable development in order to meet the needs of present generations without jeopardising those of future generations, has never been more apparent.

The MSc in Leadership for Sustainable Development will be of direct relevance to those who wish to develop the skills to make a difference in building a sustainable society. It is of direct relevance to recent graduates as well as those working in sectors dealing with sustainability.

AIM

This innovative programme has been designed in consultation with employers and academics to provide students with:

• in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of leadership in the context of sustainable development and an ability to identify and critically evaluate the role of leadership for sustainable development within a range of organisational contexts

• knowledge of the principles and core themes associated with sustainable development and an ability to critically evaluate best practice within a range of organisational sectors

• an ability to apply knowledge and skills gained from the programme in order to positively contribute to the sustainable development agenda through research projects

• competence in employability skills that will facilitate a professional approach to the work environment

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT

Course Content
The innovative programme embraces action based learning, facilitated through a series of work placements and group project to foster critical thinking and promote the use of initiative for problem solving and decision making. The course is a full time programme comprising seven modules over twelve months.

The course structure is as follows:

Semester 1:

• Leadership for Sustainable Development: to explore theories and practices of leadership in the context of sustainable development

• Foundations for Sustainable Development:1 to consider core themes underpinning sustainable development

• Foundations for Sustainable Development:2 to consider policies and strategies for sustainable development



Semesters 2 & 3:

• Sustainable Development in NGOs (Placement 1): to provide experiences of sustainable development and leadership in Non Governmental Organisations

• Sustainable Development in Governance (Placement 2): to provide experiences of sustainable development and leadership in Governance

• Sustainable Development in Business (Placement 3): to provide experiences of sustainable development and leadership in Business

• Effective Leadership: Group Project: to engage in a project to promote sustainable development through ‘experiential learning’.
Assessment

A range of assessment methods are used including research projects, group work, presentations, reports and essays, exam and seminar contribution.

CAREERS IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Graduates from this programme have developed successful careers upon completion of the MSc in Leadership for Sustainable Development. For example, past students have gone on to gain relevant employment with a range of organisations in the public, private and non-governmental organisations sectors. These include the Sustainable Development Commission NI, Action Renewables, the Environment and Heritage Service, Northern Ireland Environment Link, NIE Supply, George Best Belfast City Airport, the United Nations and the Consumer Council in Northern Ireland.

The success of the MSc Leadership for Sustainable Development programme was recently recognised when the course was highly commended in the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Green Gown Awards 2006-7.

Up to date information on course fees can be found at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/finance/TuitionFees/

The University provides information on possible sources of awards which is available at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/PostgraduateCentre/PostgraduateFunding/

Additional information for International students

http://www.qub.ac.uk/home/StudyatQueens/InternationalStudents/

Applicants who are non-EEA nationals must satisfy the UK Border Agency (UKBA) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes, by providing evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

*Taken within the last 2 yrs.

Please see http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs for more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals.

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Why take this course?

This course will allow students to gain specialism in a chosen topic through a production of an extended piece of academic writing building on their choice of optional units taken in the second year covering the areas of health, education, gender, international relations, criminology and making use of the applied research methods in development skills acquired in the first year.

The distance learning and part time mode of the programme provides a flexible learning framework with opportunities for students to undertake a full Master's qualification, a postgraduate Diploma or a postgraduate Certificate.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Critically engage with an international development studies topic of choice, assembling information from a variety of sources to compose clear detailed and logical argument;
Learn to formulate a systematic and methodologically sound research process through undertaking a literature review and empirical research;
Where applicable, justify ethical considerations surrounding research carried out.

What opportunities might it lead to?

You can expect to graduate from this course with enhanced career prospects in the international development sector, greater knowledge of development issues and an increasing professional network that may allow you to identify career opportunities. You will also be prepared for doctoral study.

Module Details

You will study the following core units:

Theory & Practice of Development:
Explore the history, theory and practice of international development studies, through topics from colonialism to globalisation. You will be introduced to the tools, such as social enterprise, that are used in development practice. Assessment includes a social enterprise project alongside a traditional essay.

Applied Research Methods for Development:
Learn the strategies and methods of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data in the social sciences. You will learn to use SPSS for data manipulation, quantitative data analysis and interpretation, using a range of data sets relevant to international development studies.

Dissertation:
Demonstrate your achievement on the course as a whole, through the production of a 15,000-word research project on a topic of your choice, informed by the optional units you have selected, under the advice and guidance of a personal supervisor.

You will also select two optional units:

International and Comparative Criminal Justice:
Compare differing systems of criminal justice, including international courts and criminal tribunals, as well as international norms and standards. You will examine the role of international criminal justice bodies within the UN and the EU, institutional development, and criminal justice capacity building.

Gender for Development Cooperation:
Combine study of theories in gender (including masculinities) with practical knowledge of the tools used by practitioners to approach gender mainstreaming in development. You will also look at the application of a gendered lens to the design and implementation of development programmes.

Contemporary Security in International Relations:
Examine the most pressing international security challenges facing policy makers, reflect on new debates in security studies, and explore the enduring relevance of strategic thought in the face of contemporary challenges.

Education and Development:
Consider key issues in contemporary debates relating to education and international development, through a range of approaches, theories and research in historical and regional contexts. Themes include fair access, inclusivity, diversity and equity in education and skills policy.

Health and Development:
Examine the challenges in defining and measuring population health, and explore a variety of health topics relevant to both the developed and developing countries including obesity, ageing, health and migration, health inequalities and child under-nutrition.

Economics of Development:
Gain insights into the ways in which economics and economists play a critical role in terms of development policy. You will examine resource endowment and exploitation, poverty and inequality, historic trade theory and the role of finance and microfinance in economic development.

Units (30 credits per unit, 60 credits for the dissertation) are offered individually as credit-bearing short courses, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or MSc International Development Studies (180 credits).

Programme Assessment

This course will be offered entirely through distance learning methods. All course materials and readings, lecture notes, as well as additional links to useful organisational sites, social media hubs and further resources, will be posted and regularly updated in our virtual learning environment. Human contact will be an important part of the programme too, with regular ‘webinars’, discussion forums, one-on-one tutorials with lecturers, email correspondence and skype meetings where necessary.

The assessment methods used on this programme are varied and test all the skills developed in the different modules at different stages of the learning process. These include essays, leading and participating in discussion forums and blogs, portfolios, policy briefs and research projects, allowing for a balance between formative and summative assessment.

Student Destinations

The course is designed to support the needs of those who hope to be, or are already, engaged in the international development sector. It offers highly desirable transferable skills such as communication, qualitative data collection, quantitative data manipulation and data analysis and writing skills. Additionally, the applied nature of this course means that students will be working within ‘live’ development contexts from the start. This will ensure that they are able to develop their professional networks and identify career opportunities. Additionally students will benefit from the advice and guidance regarding career progression given by the experts and development practitioners who teach on this course.

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Economic crisis, structural adjustment, competition, technical innovation, public, private and NGO sector reforms and many other drivers all require organisations in developing and transitional economies to change and develop on an ongoing basis. As a result, there is a growing need for staff who both understand and can contribute to organisational change and development initiatives and activities. This MSc aims to meet that need.

Aims

The course is aimed at individuals involved in processes of organisational change and development in developing and transitional economies. You are likely to have a professional interest in management and human resource issues, as reflected in the content of the core and optional course units.

In previous years, participants have been drawn from a variety of backgrounds, including managers, administrators, consultants and professional practitioners. Past participants have also been drawn from the public, private and NGO sectors.

The aim of this course is to develop you into a more effective agent of organisational change and development, by providing you with new analytical capacities, skills and knowledge. By the end of the course, you should be able to:
-Understand the academic and theoretical basis of organisational change and development.
-Develop realistic HR strategies that contribute to effective organisational change and development interventions.
-Contribute positively to organisationally-based initiatives through the effective diagnosis, planning, management and implementation of organisational change and development interventions.
-Engage in specific specialist processes of organisational change and development.
-Synthesise new and existing knowledge by undertaking academic or specialist organisational change and development research.

Special features

The course includes a fieldtrip to a UK or overseas destination, giving you practical experience of the issues discussed in class. During the visit, you also have the opportunity to discuss course topics with specialists and professionals in the field. The cost of the fieldtrip is included in the course fee.

Career opportunities

Participants are drawn from a variety of backgrounds, including managers, administrators, consultants and professional practitioners. They are also drawn from a variety of organisations undergoing change: public and private sectors and non-governmental organisations. You are likely to hold a professional interest in management and human resource issues.

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This Master's degree focuses on Human Resource Development (HRD) and Consultancy. It takes a strategic approach to people management and organisational development, designed to enhance learning, skills, personal development and performance in the workplace, as well as a range of other topical issues.

The programme is intellectually challenging. It integrates learning on training, organisational development, lifelong learning principles and consultancy practice, as well as offering a systematic approach to the design, management and evaluation of programmes to improve personal effectiveness and organisational performance. A substantial aspect of the programme is a management research project which combines the academic rigour of more traditional research dissertations with focus on activities which make a difference to practice in organisations. All modules taught on this programme place emphasis on bridging cutting-edge academic thinking with direct application to practice. The programme is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and students who successfully complete the programme are eligible for membership of this thought-leading professional association.

All modules integrate academic perspectives with practice-based approaches to HRD and considerable emphasis is placed on developing the knowledge and skills required in more senior HRD roles. You will gain an understanding of relevant organisational, psychological and management theory, whilst examining contemporary developments within the HRD field. Dedicated sessions will also equip you with skills in consultancy framework and paradigms, including practical methods for applying these. There is a particular focus on ensuring you are aware of the importance of acting ethically and professionally with a demonstrated commitment to equality of opportunity and diversity, and appreciate the importance of continuous personal and professional development.

You need to be aware that successful completion of the programme is contingent on a good attendance record and in particular practical engagement in the weekend workshops; dates are published in advance of programme commencement. This is necessary to embed the relevant learning, and also to gain CIPD membership.

Why study this course at Birkbeck?

Integrates academic perspectives with a consultancy and practice-based approach to human resource development.
Suitable for graduates, experienced organisational development and HR practitioners.
Flexible and intensive course that provides opportunities to focus on your particular needs and interests.
Approved by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Birkbeck provides a diverse range of library and learning resources designed to facilitate your studies and research. Programme- and module-specific materials are also made available to support your learning.

Our research

Birkbeck is one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions. Our cutting-edge scholarship informs public policy, achieves scientific advances, supports the economy, promotes culture and the arts, and makes a positive difference to society.

Birkbeck’s research excellence was confirmed in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which placed Birkbeck 30th in the UK for research, with 73% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent.

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Why take this course?

This course builds on the knowledge in theory and practice of development and applied research methods for development gained in the first year to allow for an in-depth understanding of two optional courses depending on students’ interest and background taken in the second year. Optional units will cover the disciplines of health, education, economics, politics and criminology and the topic of gender.

The distance learning and part time mode of the programme provides a flexible learning framework with opportunities for students to undertake a full Master's qualification, a postgraduate Diploma or a postgraduate Certificate.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Study with academic staff that are actively engaged in research in your chosen optional unit and with an area/regional specialism
Critically engage with a range of topics from the field of international development studies, assembling a clear argument from a variety of information sources
Take advantage of flexible provision that aims to meet your specific needs

What opportunities might it lead to?

You can expect to graduate from this course with enhanced career prospects in the international development sector, greater knowledge of development issues and an increasing professional network that may allow you to identify career opportunities.

Module Details

You will study the following core units:

Theory & Practice of Development:
Explore the history, theory and practice of international development studies, through topics from colonialism to globalisation. You will be introduced to the tools, such as social enterprise, that are used in development practice. Assessment includes a social enterprise project alongside a traditional essay.

Applied Research Methods for Development:
Learn the strategies and methods of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data in the social sciences. You will learn to use SPSS for data manipulation, quantitative data analysis and interpretation, using a range of data sets relevant to international development studies.

You will also select two optional units:

International and Comparative Criminal Justice:
Compare differing systems of criminal justice, including international courts and criminal tribunals, as well as international norms and standards. You will examine the role of international criminal justice bodies within the UN and the EU, institutional development, and criminal justice capacity building.

Gender for Development Cooperation:
Combine study of theories in gender (including masculinities) with practical knowledge of the tools used by practitioners to approach gender mainstreaming in development. You will also look at the application of a gendered lens to the design and implementation of development programmes.

Contemporary Security in International Relations:
Examine the most pressing international security challenges facing policy makers, reflect on new debates in security studies, and explore the enduring relevance of strategic thought in the face of contemporary challenges.

Education and Development:
Consider key issues in contemporary debates relating to education and international development, through a range of approaches, theories and research in historical and regional contexts. Themes include fair access, inclusivity, diversity and equity in education and skills policy.

Health and Development:
Examine the challenges in defining and measuring population health, and explore a variety of health topics relevant to both the developed and developing countries including obesity, ageing, health and migration, health inequalities and child under-nutrition.

Economics of Development:
Gain insights into the ways in which economics and economists play a critical role in terms of development policy. You will examine resource endowment and exploitation, poverty and inequality, historic trade theory and the role of finance and microfinance in economic development.

Units (30 credits per unit, 60 credits for the dissertation) are offered individually as credit-bearing short courses, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or MSc International Development Studies (180 credits).

Programme Assessment

This course will be offered entirely through distance learning methods. All course materials and readings, lecture notes, as well as additional links to useful organisational sites, social media hubs and further resources, will be posted and regularly updated in our virtual learning environment. Human contact will be an important part of the programme too, with regular ‘webinars’, discussion forums, one-on-one tutorials with lecturers, email correspondence and skype meetings where necessary.

The assessment methods used on this programme are varied and test all the skills developed in the different modules at different stages of the learning process. These include essays, leading and participating in discussion forums and blogs, portfolios, policy briefs and research projects, allowing for a balance between formative and summative assessment.

Student Destinations

The living contexts of the work undertaken on this course will offer valuable experience and contacts in the international development sector, while the advice and guidance regarding career progression given by lecturing staff will be invaluable. You may use this career to support work in governmental bodies and NGOs, or charities.

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Why take this course?

International Development Studies is a multidisciplinary course that can be approached from different angles of various disciplines. However, any international development professional needs to have knowledge in the theory of development and skills required in international development practice. This course combines theories of development with core professional skills needed for a successful career in development such as quantitative and qualitative research methods and social enterprise.

The distance learning and part time mode of the programme provides a flexible learning framework with opportunities for students to undertake a full Master's qualification, a postgraduate Diploma or a postgraduate Certificate.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Engage in debates on what is development, how development is measured and the historical influences and theories of development;
Be introduced to the tools used in development practice;
Learn to undertake quantitative data analysis using books that are light hearted and have a gentle treatment to statistics;
Take advantage of flexible provision that meets the needs of different stakeholders, including those already professionally employed in international development.

What opportunities might it lead to?

You can expect to graduate from this course with enhanced career prospects in the international development sector, greater knowledge of development issues and an increasing professional network that may allow you to identify career opportunities.

Module Details

You will study the following core units:

Theory & Practice of Development:
Explore the history, theory and practice of international development studies, through topics from colonialism to globalisation. You will be introduced to the tools, such as social enterprise, that are used in development practice. Assessment includes a social enterprise project alongside a traditional essay.

Applied Research Methods for Development:
Learn the strategies and methods of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data in the social sciences. You will learn to use SPSS for data manipulation, quantitative data analysis and interpretation, using a range of data sets relevant to international development studies.

Units (30 credits per unit, 60 credits for the dissertation) are offered individually as credit-bearing short courses, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or MSc International Development Studies (180 credits).

Programme Assessment

This course will be offered entirely through distance learning methods. All course materials and readings, lecture notes, as well as additional links to useful organisational sites, social media hubs and further resources, will be posted and regularly updated in our virtual learning environment. Human contact will be an important part of the programme too, with regular ‘webinars’, discussion forums, one-on-one tutorials with lecturers, email correspondence and skype meetings where necessary.

The assessment methods used on this programme are varied and test all the skills developed in the different modules at different stages of the learning process. These include essays, leading and participating in discussion forums and blogs, portfolios, policy briefs and research projects, allowing for a balance between formative and summative assessment.

Student Destinations

The course is designed to support the needs of those who hope to be, or are already, engaged in the international development sector. It offers highly desirable transferable skills such as communication, qualitative data collection, quantitative data manipulation and data analysis and writing skills. Additionally, the applied nature of this course means that students will be working within ‘live’ development contexts from the start. This will ensure that they are able to develop their professional networks and identify career opportunities. Additionally students will benefit from the advice and guidance regarding career progression given by the experts and development practitioners who teach on this course.

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The Urban Development Planning MSc explores international practices in urban development policy, planning and management that address contemporary spatial, socio-economic and political transformations in cities of the Global South.

Degree information

This MSc aims to equip participants to work effectively as development practitioners in urban contexts through a deeper understanding of the processes that generate urban change. The programme aims to enhance their diagnostic and strategic capacities to respond to such change within the framework of socially just urban governance.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of three core modules (90 credits), one optional module (30 credits) and a dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma, three core modules (90 credits), one optional module (30 credits), full-time nine months, is offered.

Core modules
-The City and its Relations: Context, Institutions and Actors in Urban Development Planning
-Urban Development Policy, Planning and Management: Strategic Action in Theory and Practice
-Practice in Urban Development Planning

Optional modules - please note, not all optional modules may be available.
-Adapting Cities to Climate Change in the Global South
-An Introduction to Public Economics and Public Policy
-Critical Urbanism Studio I - Learning from Informality: Case studies and alternatives
-Critical Urbanism Studio II - Investigative Design Strategies for Contested Spaces
-Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities
-Food and the City
-Gender in Policy and Planning
-Housing as Urbanism: Housing Policy and the Search for Scale
-Housing Policies: Practical Dimensions and Alternative Options
-Industrialisation and Infrastructure
-Knowledge Systems and Sustainable Food Production
-Managing the City Economy
-Neo-Structuralism and the Developmental State
-NGOs and Social Transformation
-Participatory Processes: Building for Development
-Post Disaster Recovery: Policies, Practices and Alternatives
-Social Diversity, Inequality and Poverty
-Sustainable Infrastructure and Services in Development
-Urban Water and Sanitation, Planning and Politics
-Sustainable Infrastructure and Services in Development

Dissertation/report
All MSc students submit a 10,000-word report on a topic related to the main themes of the programme. The topic can be chosen to enhance career development or for its inherent interest.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, workshops and field trips. Field trips so far have taken place in Egypt, Ghana, India, Thailand, and Tanzania. Student performance is assessed through essays, coursework, team project reports, written examinations, the overseas field trip and a 10,000-word dissertation.

Careers

This MSc is widely recognised by international organisations and agencies (such as UN agencies and the World Bank) and bilateral aid organisations from different countries. Graduate destinations range from UK-based organisations in the public, private and community sectors to governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations which operate in a development capacity in the South. Graduates have also been employed by international NGOs and aid and development agencies. Some graduates return to their home countries and engage in the practice, teaching or research of urban development practice; other graduates have successfully sought employment in international development organisations away from their own countries.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-Investment Banker, Standard Bank
-Assistant Researcher, Institute for Urban Studies, Hangzhou Normal University and studying BSc Economics, The University of London
-Research Assistant, Erzurum Technical University
-Regional Programme Assistant, Merlin
-Shelter Co-Ordinator, Save the Children

Employability
The programme aims to help students:
-Prepare balanced, critical and comparative analysis and argument based on theory and empirical evidence.
-Undertake a comprehensive diagnosis of the problems and opportunities in urban development in specific contexts.
-Formulate systematic and reasoned proposals that address the multi-dimensional complexity of various urban development situations, including organisational and institutional development.
-Build presentation, advocacy and negotiation skills.
-Develop research skills including interviewing, conceptual framework formulation, and the abilitiy to analyse a range of information sources.
-Enhance their teamwork skills.
-Operate professionally in an unfamiliar environment within the context of a developing country.

Why study this degree at UCL?

This programme argues that planning is key to dealing with urban problems and opportunities presented by rapid urbanisation in the Global South, but that its potential cannot be harnessed without a critical understanding of the processes that generate urban change in specific contexts.

The programme seeks to equip students with the capacity to develop critical diagnoses of urban issues, as a basis for developing propositional responses within the framework of socially, spatially and environmentally just urban governance.

The programme promotes a deeper understanding of community-led and partnership-based urban development planning. Students also benefit from the Development Planning Unit's longstanding and geographically exhaustive alumni and partner network.

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Master's specialisation in Organisational Design and Development

Are you interested in how organisations can be designed in a way that operate efficiently and fulfill their societal role? Would you like to develop interventions that address structural problems, and also taking the social aspects of change in organisations into account? Then our Master’s specialisation Organisational Design and Development (OD&D) is the perfect choice for you. The OD&D specialisation will train you to combine a research perspective on the meaning and role of organisation with a practical perspective on how to actually go about designing and developing successful organisations. You will gain advisory skills and learn to conduct research, typically in close cooperation with an organisation.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/opleidingen/master/business-development

Why should you choose Organisational Design & Development in Nijmegen?

- The only specialisation that combines structural and social aspects of organisational design and development in the Netherlands
- The programme includes research on social practices and change processes in organisations
- It enables students to analyse structural problems building on the tradition of socio-technical systems theory
- Theory and action-based learning
- Research methods and intervention theory

Career prospects

After graduating most Organisational Design and Development students will be employed at a consulting company or institution.
Our graduates are well qualified and employers are keen to hire them. Our graduates are found in management positions in many governments and national and international companies. Most of the graduates of OD&D work as consultants. Some graduates start a traineeship and some go on to pursue a PhD in Business Administration.

Our approach to this field

As an Organisational Design and Development student, during Period 3 in Semester 2, you will choose two elective courses from the Business Administration programme. All six specialisations offer one or more electives. You, as a student, are free to choose two of them. Some examples of elective courses are: Forms of Responsible Organising (offered by Marketing), Competition and Cooperation (offered by Strategic Management) or International Human Resource Management (offered by Strategic Human Resource Management).

Next to that, it is possible to combine writing your Master’s thesis with doing research in an organisation during this specialisation. This is an ideal preparation for the future professional field, as it allows you to apply your theoretical knowledge into practice and to experience what type of organisation best fits your wishes.

Finally, Radboud University offers two different honours programmes for talented students: ‘Reflections on Science’ and ‘Reflections on Professions’. During these programmes students can (further) develop various skills that will proof to be useful in their career inside or outside the academic world.

Our research in this field

- Theory and action-based learning
This programme is closely associated with the research carried out within the Institute of Management Research, where the focus is on research into relationship management, institutional dynamics, decision making and innovative management. You will become familiar with both the theoretical and practical aspects of your special subject. The programme combines a thorough training in methodology with action-based learning: you apply the theory you have learned to concrete cases and learn to develop appropriate solutions. And, in our Visa Skills Lab, students use computers to make scenario analyses and simulate decision-making processes within organisations.

- Truly international
The education and research training we provide are internationally oriented. Our students have the opportunity to take part in a Master’s level project on European Human Resource Management, a cooperative venture among six leading European business schools and universities. Here, students work in a multi-cultural team and follow a consultancy in-company project in one of the six countries involved.

See the website http://www.ru.nl/opleidingen/master/business-development

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MSc Development and Rural Innovation

The MSc Development and Rural Innovation is the international social sciences programme for students with a technical, life Wageningen Universityscience or relevant management background with an interest in international development and beta/ gamma integration. In Development and Rural Innovation, we develop professionals who are able to deal with knowledge processes in dynamic contexts.

Programme summary

This programme aims to develop professionals who understand the role of knowledge in societal change processes and are able to link human and technological dimensions of innovation in dynamic contexts across the globe. It is a social science programme tailored for students with a technical, life science or relevant management background with an interest in international development problems. Innovations in the field of agriculture, food and natural resource management have a dual nature. They consist of new technological practices as well as new socio-organisational arrangements between different societal actors. Dealing with the links between technological developments and societies in which these are introduced and used, requires a fundamental understanding of socio-technical innovation and change processes. In other words, you will be challenged to combine your previously acquired competencies with new social science competencies in order to make innovations work.

Offering a variety of disciplinary and problem-oriented courses, the programme is taught in an interactive style where learning from each other is emphasised. Working in small international groups contributes significantly to this mutual learning process. The programme is highly thesis-oriented. The subject matter and methodology courses serve primarily as preparation for an empirical research project. This entails writing a research proposal, conducting the research and completing a thesis, thereby offering you the opportunity to apply your newly acquired insights in a field situation. International students often apply this knowledge in their home country on a topic relevant to their professional interests and preferences. Others choose a relevant topic in their field of interest in various countries around the world, including the Netherlands.

Thesis tracks

Communication and Innovation
In this track, you study communication among stakeholders and disciplines in the context of societal problem solving and change. Special attention is given to the role of communication, knowledge, interpretation and innovation support strategies in bringing about organisational, policy or technological change in societal domains such as sustainable agriculture, health, environment, multifunctional land use and international development.

Technology and Development
The goal of this track is to understand how science and technology interact with international development problems, such as food security, adaptation to climate change and social justice. The approach involves analysis of how technology both mediates and is constituted through social relations and institutional arrangements between various actors including farmers, scientists and policymakers. Most social problems that we face today involves science and technology, either as a cause or as a cure.

Sociology of Development and Change
This track focuses on the understanding of rural development problems worldwide from sociological and anthropological perspectives. Particular attention is paid to how local people themselves solve problems. Field-based studies are the basis for critical reflection on theories of development and social change. Themes addressed include food security, livelihoods in the context of globalisation, poverty and environmental degradation, property rights, conflict, and policy

Your future career

The programme lays the foundations for a variety of career opportunities, usually oriented towards societal problem solving and innovation. You can become a researcher or a knowledge broker who ensures a good fit between client demands and research formulation. You might take on the role of process facilitator or communication specialist in a non-governmental organisation, the public sector or the private industry. A career as a policymaker or consultant in various (inter)national organisations is another option. Organisations where graduates work are for example: UNDP, Tropenbos International, Women for Water, UTZ Certified, George Washington University, UNICEF, Fairfood International.

Alumnus Ben Corrigan.
After studying physical geography, Ben joined the social science Master Development and Rural Innovation. In his job as Programme Manager for the German Red Cross in Haiti, he works on food security and providing basic services such as water and sanitation to remote communities. “One of my responsibilities is to ensure that technical staff integrate social dimensions into their work and build real partnerships with stakeholders in the field. As a Development and Rural Innovation graduate, I am well prepared for this kind of job and feel confident in it. This programme is a gateway to a great career if you like to work in the development sector or continue in academia.”

Related programmes:
MSc International Development Studies
MSc Applied Communication Science
MSc Management, Economics and Consumer Studies
MSc International Land and Water Management
MSc Environmental Sciences.

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About the MSc programme

The MSc Social Policy and Development programme is aimed at those who have work experience in developing countries and wish to acquire professional skills in the expanding field of social policy and development. The degree aims to develop an understanding of the theory and methodology of social policy and development, to allow deeper study in specialist development areas of particular interest to individual students and to strengthen analytical and organisational skills.

The first stream, Social Policy and Development, approaches social policy and development primarily from the perspective of government. The second stream, Social Policy and Development: Non-Governmental Organisations approaches the subject from the perspective of NGOs and wider civil society. Both streams share a common engagement with the core concepts and debates within social policy and development including the policy process, wellbeing, poverty and exclusion, global institutions and the aid system, sustainability and livelihoods, and rights and citizenship.

You will study in a comparative, international and multi-disciplinary environment, with staff who have expertise in Asia, Africa, Latin America and post-communist societies, and maintain research and advisory links with governments and key international development organisations.

Graduate destinations

Students who have graduated from this programme have gone one to work for:
Different UN agencies including UNDP, UNICEF and UNHCR
A variety of small and large NGOs including Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières, International Red Cross, One World Action
International or intergovernmental organisations such as the World Economic Forum, European Commission, World Bank
Consulting companies
Government ministries

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