Course Overview
Implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs is the biggest challenge facing our planet today. The dynamic MA in International Development Practice (MIDP at University of Galway focuses on the wide-ranging social, economic, political and environmental challenges of our rapidly changing world. Spanning global concerns, from sustainable development and climate action, to food security and alleviating poverty, this MA’s focus on international development challenges enables you to develop your capacities to understand and engage with both theories and practices relating to contemporary international development as a distinct career path, with a strong emphasis on inter-disciplinarity. Given that international development challenges are multi-dimensional, they require interlinked strategies across multiple disciplines and perspectives. The programme is led by highly experienced staff who work in multilateral agencies, and have a backgrounds in human rights, policy, planning, gender, migration etc, along with practical field based research experience across many countries worldwide.
Above: MA in International Development Practice Students on a field trip to the Irish Ploughing Championship on 21 September 2023, where they met with NGOs, Irish Aid, and others to ask about how they view the SDGs.
Objectives of the Programme:
- Equip you with the theoretical and evaluative capacity to critically interrogate development policy and practice from a range of multidisciplinary perspectives.
- Develop the skills required to analyse the multi-dimensional challenges inherent in sustainable development and to work in a development programme implementation environment.
- Build competencies that are required to work professionally in an international development context/organization.
The MIDP contains core modules in development theory, policy and practice that incorporate academic, practitioner and policy orientations to link development theory and practice. Building upon this, the programme then provides a number of elective pathways through which you develop interdisciplinary expertise in key development issues, including environment, gender, human rights, food security, climate change and agriculture. Through these cross-college elective pathways you are afforded a unique opportunity to build on previous learning experiences and develop a specialised prospective career path. You will have the opportunity to combine the study of the socio-technical aspects of development practice with a reflective practice based learning experience. The programme culminates with a practice-based dissertation in which students undertake a research placement in a development organisation.
Learning Outcomes for the Programme
On the successful completion of this programme you will be able to:
- Differentiate between a range of development theories and evaluate how they relate to programmatic outcomes.
- Locate contemporary debates in international development in the context of economic and sustainable development discourses, policy positions and processes.
- Compare, categorise and critique international development institutions such as government agencies, United Nations organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs, philanthropic foundations, and consultancy firms engaged in international development practice, and be able to evaluate their work in terms of impact.
- Apply a range of research methods, perspectives and critical thinking to contemporary international development issues.
- Apply problem-solving, project planning, and management skills to the implementation and evaluation of development initiatives.
In sum, on the MIDP, you will acquire expertise via three core, interlinked pedagogical components—development theory, development policy, and development practice – along with the opportunity to specialise in a range of development practice sectors, including science, human rights, data analytics and project management. In addition, a key research placement element will equip you with vital on-the-ground experience of development practice.
Online learning: there are options for on-campus or on-line mode of delivery in semester 2.
Applications and Selections
Entry to the programme is based on competitive selection. Applications are made online via the University of Galway Postgraduate Applications System. See supporting documents requirements here.
Who Teaches this Course
- Professor Charles Spillane
Room 111 Geography
University of Galway
University Road
Galway H91 TK33
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Requirements and Assessment
IELTS score: If you have not studied through English before you will need an English language qualification by the time your register from within the last two years such as IELTS 6.5 (with not less than 5.5 in any one component.
NQAI Level 8 honours degree or equivalent to a minimum standard of Second Class Honours, Grade 1 or equivalent in an appropriate discipline is required.