Kimmage Development Studies Centre: Programmes: MA/Post Grad in Development Studies

‘Overall, it was a wonderful experience’
‘A great institute to learn how to see the world through different eyes…’
‘I have really enjoyed the year and learnt a lot’
‘The institution is absolutely an excellent place for studies and the members of staff are patient and wonderful. I always feel at home and would definitely recommend it to anyone who would want to study, especially for an MA in Development Studies.'

The MA in Development Studies Programme at Kimmage Development Studies Centre (KDSC) is a 14 month full time programme designed specifically for those wishing to undertake postgraduate, professional education and training for work in development, in a community, youth/adult education, volunteer or international setting.

This MA is aimed at advanced level participants who hold a primary degree or equivalent qualifications and who have experience of working in a development context. Particularly welcome are leaders, facilitators and managers of community development projects, development agency staff, researchers, development educators, volunteers and activists. It should also appeal to academics in the countries of the Global South engaged in teaching and research in development. Some places are also retained for recent graduates who wish to study further before embarking on a career in development work in Ireland or abroad.

·         To offer a high quality academic training in development studies, exploring contemporary theories in the social sciences and development policies and practices
·         To give participants a critical understanding of contemporary debates relating to development, including contrasting arguments and understandings of development processes, and to enhance their abilities to apply such knowledge to policy analysis and practical problem solving
·         To enhance the skills of participants, especially in relation to leadership, motivation and working with groups and in the planning, management and evaluation of development projects
·         To enhance participants’ critical understanding of research processes appropriate to different development contexts and issues and to facilitate them to undertake primary research in the development field

What You Get

Learning – a critical understanding of contemporary development issues at local, national and global levels through participation in courses such as:

Skills – skills in development project planning and management, group facilitation and community development processes through exploration of:

Experience – undertaking primary social research in the development field

Course Delivery – courses are delivered through participatory, ‘user-friendly’ methods, enabling participants to understand the complexities of development and to critically reflect on their experience

Specialisation – an opportunity to specialise in an area of your choice, e.g., Development Management and the Ethics of Development, Human Rights and Conflict Management, Human Development and Facilitation Skills, or Rural Development and Sustainable Livelihoods

Intercultural Learning Environment – the opportunity to build long lasting relationships and friendships with a dynamic and diverse group of committed people

Facilities and Accreditation – access to the full resources and facilities of KDSC and to the fine reputation we enjoy in Ireland and abroad, as well as an internationally recognised HETAC accredited qualification (www.hetac.ie)

Full-Time or Part-Time Participation – the MA programme at KDSC is suitable for attendance either on a full- or part-time basis

Participants are accepted on to a common postgraduate programme commencing in mid September. Participants who meet the required standard (a grade of 60% or higher in each of the five mandatory subject areas) at the end of the taught course work (end of May in the following year) will be permitted to continue towards an MA award (equivalent to 90 credits under the European Credit Transfer System). For MA participants supervised work towards a final dissertation is expected to be completed by the end of October. Successful completion of the programme earns participants an MA in Development Studies, accredited by the HETAC, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.
Participants who do not meet a minimum standard, or who choose to complete after the course work stage, will be registered for the award of Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (60 ECTS credits).
Both the MA in Development Studies and the Post Graduate Diploma in Development Studies are Level 9 awards under the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (www.nfq.ie).

The postgraduate programme offers courses in the following study areas:

1. Political Economy of Development

(includes Development Economics, Political Studies and Environment and Development). The aim of this subject is to provide participants with an introduction to particular economic and political theories and practices, and to examine how these relate to local, national and global development, with particular reference to sustainable development.

2. Planning for Development

(includes Project Planning and Management and Gender Analysis). This subject aims to provide participants with conceptual and practical tools pertinent to planning for development, including those of gender analyses and leadership approaches.

3. Social and Cultural Change

(includes Sociology of Development and Cultural Anthropology). The aim of this subject is to provide participants with a good understanding of the social and cultural aspects of change and development at global and local levels.

4. Adult and Group Development

(includes Leadership in Groups and Adult Education). The aim of this subject area is to build the capacity of participants in terms of working in groups, personal awareness, inter-personal communication, and appreciating different approaches towards the education of adults and of their own learning.

5. Research Methodologies

This subject provides an integrated training in research methods with a strong emphasis on the use of appropriate quantitative and qualitative techniques and the ability to carry out applied research within the students’ chosen specialist field.

6. Specialist Subjects

These elective subjects offer a forum for more specialist analysis of changing trends and perspectives in a particular strand of development work. Participants choose subjects within two of the following specialist areas: Development Management, Conflict Management and Human Rights, Participatory Development, or Rural Development and Livelihoods. (Please note that these specialist subjects offered change from time to time.)

Participants who continue towards an MA award are expected to submit a final dissertation [15,000 – 20,000 words] within the time allocated.

Assessment is by a combination of continuous assessment, project work, examinations and final dissertation.

Applicants to the postgraduate programme must hold a University Degree, preferably in a development related discipline. Those with a professional background in some form of development work are particularly welcome to apply. Candidates for the programme are selected on the strength of their applications and, wherever possible, by interview.