MA Globalisation and Development

MA Globalisation and Development

“The MA (or Masters) programme in Globalisation and Development is an exciting opportunity to learn about current power shifts in the global economy and how trade and financial market policies affect the global south…the current losers of globalisation are the already most vulnerable members of world society but we are here to find solutions that also allow the disadvantaged to profit from this globalisation process through integration and policy change…besides gaining a solid understanding of current issues in the globalisation debate the MA programme provides us with practical ideas as to how positive change is possible. It is also both enriching and inspiring to share the classroom with an international team of researchers and scholars that add to our own understanding of development in general”

Ricarda Hirsiger
MA Globalisation student 2008-09

The global economy is experiencing an unprecedented shift in economic power from West to East, rapid technological transformation, amid increasing turbulence and deep inequalities between and within countries. This Masters programme provides an in-depth understanding of these issues through an innovative mix of teaching methods that combines conventional lectures and workshops as well as interactions with people from business, the public sector, NGOs and international organisations.

The MA or Masters programme provides students with the analytical and practical skills needed to understand globalisation processes and their main drivers, and to participate in the formulation of policies for a sustainable development. Our programme is based upon the view that the impact of trade and financial market policies on countries, producers and workers, is influenced by how they are integrated into the global system, and that there is scope for the many actors involved to influence change.

Term Schedule:

Autumn Term

• Core Course One: Ideas in Development and Policy: Evidence & Practice.
• Core Course Two: Managing Globalisation.

Spring Term

• Core Course Three: Introduction to Economics
• Core Course Four:
  
  • Globalisation & Inequalities: 1 course from a range of options. Courses vary from year to year, but may include:
    • Global Governance.
    • Vulnerability & Social Protection.
    • Empowering Society.
    • Democracy & Development.
    • Public Management & Organisational Development.
    • Science, Knowledge & the Politics of Development.
    • Science & Policy Processes; issues in health, environment & agriculture.
    • Poverty & Inequality.
    • Politics of Implementing Gender & Development.
    • Key Issues in Gender & Development.
    • Critical Reflection & Analysis: integrating theory & practice.
    • Research Methods.
    • Economics for Development.

Summer Term

• Core Course Five (half-length): Competing in the Global Economy
• Core Course Six (half-length):
  
  • 1 course from a range of options. Courses vary from year to year, but may include:
    • Decentralisation & Local Government.
    • Governance of Violent Conflict & (In)security.
    • Management of Public Finance.
    • Politics of Pro-Poor Policies.
    • Rethinking Health Systems.
    • Aid & Poverty: the political economy of international development assistance.
    • Analysing Poverty & Vulnerability.
    • Climate Change & Disasters.
    • Post-conflict & Very Poor Countries: development challenges.
    • Doing Gender & Development.
    • Reflective Practice & Social Change.
    • China in Development.
    • Mobilising Knowledge for Development.

June - September

• Dissertation (submit early September): 10,000 word dissertation under the supervision of a faculty member.

Professional Skills for Development Workshops will run through the terms.

Ideas in Development and Policy, Evidence and Practice in Development (Autumn Term)

This course is the foundation for all the Masters' programmes at IDS. It provides students with the opportunity for shared learning across the different programmes as well as to meet IDS researchers from across all the disciplines and points of view represented in the Institute. A weekly lecture series provides students with an appreciation of different perspectives on development theory as presented by some of the Institute's most distinguished Fellows. Each lecture is followed up by a tutorial that allows students to explore further the issues raised in the lecture and consider how these relate to their own specific area of study.

Managing Globalisation Course

This course is based upon the understanding that globalisation is a complex process with regional, national and local ramifications that can be managed through policy interventions at different levels to make it more equitable and sustainable. It provides an overview of globalisation, with emphasis on its main drivers; and it discusses the various consequences of globalisation, and the set of policies that are required in different areas such as international trade and finance to change globalisation towards more positive outcomes.

Introduction to Economics

The course is aimed at those with limited previous exposure to economics and aims to provide students with a basic understanding of key concepts in economics, and of their application in development policy and practice.

Globalisation and Inequalities Course (Spring Term)

While the opportunities offered by globalisation can be large, the question is often raised whether the actual distribution of gains is fair. This course aims to provide the tools to answer this question. Students will be introduced to the many debates that have developed in recent years about the meaning and measurement of inequality and poverty, cross-country and inter-temporal data comparability and methodology of analysis relating to these.

Competing in the Global Economy (Summer Term)

This course examines the different ways in which countries attempt to compete in the global economy. In particular it explores the ways in which developing countries are attempting to upgrade production technologies and innovate in order to enter global value chains. The course will provide students with:

• The skills to analyse upgrading and innovation strategies.
• An understanding of the new challenges posed by China and the East Asian production system.
• The tools to identify appropriate lessons for policy.

Professional Skills for Development

This workshop series focuses on the practical and methodological processes associated with development research, including sessions on topics such as participatory development, quantitative and qualitative research methods, monitoring and evaluation and project management.