Managing Rural Development
Programme Convenor: Professor Andrew Dorward
The rural sectors of developing countries are often pivotal to wider processes of social and economic change. An understanding of the underlying driving forces of these processes, of their interactions with global and urban change, and of their consequences is critical for many working in development, government and business.
This programme provides an interdisciplinary awareness of social, economic and management issues in rural change together with conceptual, analytical and operational skills for understanding and working to influence the driving forces in these processes of change.
Programme aims
It gives students the opportunity to develop:
- a critical awareness of the social, economic and management issues underlying socioeconomic change
- conceptual and analytical skills relevant to the social and economic dimensions of agriculture and related industries
- a set of operational skills pertinent to working in the public, private or NGO domains
- the ability to engage with, and influence, rational debates concerning the optimal direction of rural sector change
- enhanced communication and presentation skills
- the ability to access the rural development literature and to pursue effective research
Career prospects for graduates
Students on this programme have a wide range of backgrounds and may include (but are not limited to) agronomists, engineers, veterinary personnel, economists, anthropologists, sociologists, educationalists, health professionals, community development workers, managers, and others.
Typically they will find work in:
- development projects, frequently focused on rural and particularly agricultural enterprises and on the households associated with these enterprises
- aid agencies and non-governmental organisations concerned with rural change
- programmes concerned with health, nutrition, communications and other rural development issues
- government ministries and other public sector organisations concerned with the rural sector
- consultancies related to a wide range of programmes and projects
Programme structure
| Qualification | Number of modules | Duration | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Elective | Research | Total | ||
| MSc in Managing Rural Development | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 | Minimum of 2 years and maximum registration of 5 years |
| PGDip in Managing Rural Development | 4 | 4 | 8 | Minimum of 2 years and maximum registration of 5 years | |
| PGCert in Managing Rural Development | At least 3 | Up to 1 | 4 | Minimum of 1 year and maximum registration of 5 years | |
