Graduate Studies in International Development

Graduate Studies in Graduate Studies in International International DevelopmentDevelopment

EWB National ConferenceEWB National Conference

January 21, 2006January 21, 2006

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction SurveySurvey

Participants, questions, and answersParticipants, questions, and answers

Brief overview of some schools Brief overview of some schools and programsand programs

IntroductionIntroduction

History of International History of International Development Studies (IDS)Development Studies (IDS)

1960’s – Volunteering overseas with 1960’s – Volunteering overseas with CUSO, VSO, & Peace CorpsCUSO, VSO, & Peace Corps

1970’s – First IDS program at Sussex 1970’s – First IDS program at Sussex (UK); copied in Africa(UK); copied in Africa

1980’s – Decade of professionalization in 1980’s – Decade of professionalization in IDID

1990’s to Present – Diversification of 1990’s to Present – Diversification of development job marketdevelopment job market

Survey ParticipantsSurvey Participants

Chris SmartChris Smart – EWB advisory board member – EWB advisory board member Lea JohnsonLea Johnson – Development practitioner & – Development practitioner &

SFU professorSFU professor Tess OcolTess Ocol – IDS Master’s grad from Sussex – IDS Master’s grad from Sussex Katharine CrossKatharine Cross – Studying MSc in – Studying MSc in

Environment and Development at LSEEnvironment and Development at LSE Alex ConliffeAlex Conliffe – Studying MSc in – Studying MSc in

Environmental Change and Management at Environmental Change and Management at OxfordOxford

Scott GriffithsScott Griffiths – Studying Master’s in Public – Studying Master’s in Public Administration in ID at KSG, Harvard Administration in ID at KSG, Harvard

Eliza WadellEliza Wadell – Studying MSc in Water & – Studying MSc in Water & Environmental Management at LoughboroughEnvironmental Management at Loughborough

Survey Questions & Survey Questions & AnswersAnswers

1.1. Is grad studies in development Is grad studies in development worthwhile?worthwhile?

““Yes” – very good sorting out exercise but Yes” – very good sorting out exercise but you have to WANT to do ityou have to WANT to do it

Investment in time & money but worth it if Investment in time & money but worth it if you want to be in top percentageyou want to be in top percentage

““Helps contextualize development into Helps contextualize development into broader framework”broader framework”

Employers looking for 5+ years experience Employers looking for 5+ years experience and/or mastersand/or masters

Worthwhile only if you choose a degree Worthwhile only if you choose a degree that suits what you want to dothat suits what you want to do

Survey Questions & Survey Questions & AnswersAnswers2.2. Should I take an interdisciplinary IDS Should I take an interdisciplinary IDS

program, or a more traditional program, or a more traditional disciplinary program (i.e. economics)?disciplinary program (i.e. economics)?

Have to match person to programHave to match person to program Ask “am I private or public sector?”Ask “am I private or public sector?” Ask “am I a generalist or specialist?”Ask “am I a generalist or specialist?” ““Be clear about your sector, be clear about Be clear about your sector, be clear about

your specialty, be very choosy about your your specialty, be very choosy about your school”school”

Development is InterdisciplinaryDevelopment is Interdisciplinary Con – interdisciplinary programs can be Con – interdisciplinary programs can be

taught at “lowest common denominator” taught at “lowest common denominator” levellevel


3.3. What are the best development-What are the best development-related grad programs in related grad programs in Canada? In the world?Canada? In the world?

Canada – Dalhousie, Guelph, St. Canada – Dalhousie, Guelph, St. Mary’s, Normal Patterson School of Mary’s, Normal Patterson School of International Affairs (Carleton)International Affairs (Carleton)

Sussex, Oxford, LSE, CambridgeSussex, Oxford, LSE, Cambridge Eliza recommends Loughborough Eliza recommends Loughborough

(Water Engineering & Development (Water Engineering & Development Centre) if you want Water and Centre) if you want Water and SanitationSanitation

Survey Questions & Survey Questions & AnswersAnswers4.4. How do Canada’s IDS programs How do Canada’s IDS programs

compare with those from the UK or US?compare with those from the UK or US? Chris: Compare well, matter of emphasisChris: Compare well, matter of emphasis Lea: Canada is behind – “If you can afford it, Lea: Canada is behind – “If you can afford it,

gogo to UK”to UK” No IDS in US – Area studiesNo IDS in US – Area studies UK – extremely international (37 people, 3 UK – extremely international (37 people, 3

from UK, 50% from south) UK from UK, 50% from south) UK More MSc options in UKMore MSc options in UK 1 year programs in UK, 2 years in Canada1 year programs in UK, 2 years in Canada EDUCATION vs. TRAININGEDUCATION vs. TRAINING


5.5. Is it worth paying the big $$ to Is it worth paying the big $$ to go to well-known schools?go to well-known schools?

““Wherever you go, you won’t waste Wherever you go, you won’t waste money”money”

Cachet to big names – will help land Cachet to big names – will help land jobs with big NGO’s/firmsjobs with big NGO’s/firms

Network, calibre of visiting speakers, Network, calibre of visiting speakers, reputation of profs, employers that reputation of profs, employers that come to recruitcome to recruit

Get feedback from students in courseGet feedback from students in course


6.6. What is the difference between a grad What is the difference between a grad certificate, diploma, and masters? certificate, diploma, and masters? What should I take?What should I take?

Certificate is short – training (no evaluation)Certificate is short – training (no evaluation) Master’s proves yourself at higher level of Master’s proves yourself at higher level of

academiaacademia Diploma is pre-master’sDiploma is pre-master’s Chris: Do diploma or master’s – engineers Chris: Do diploma or master’s – engineers

don’t get much “education”don’t get much “education” ““Literacy” in developmentLiteracy” in development


7.7. Should I take a practical or Should I take a practical or theoretical program?theoretical program?

Depends on interestDepends on interest Ask “where do I want to be Ask “where do I want to be

Monday morning?”Monday morning?” Master’s is more theoreticalMaster’s is more theoretical Can get practical in industry or Can get practical in industry or

fieldfield– (Certificate program)(Certificate program)


8.8. How much experience is necessary before How much experience is necessary before doing grad studies in development?doing grad studies in development?

At least one “cycle of life” in the fieldAt least one “cycle of life” in the field ““However you do this, decide to do it for 10 However you do this, decide to do it for 10

years”years” Lea – Minimum 5 years!: “After your Lea – Minimum 5 years!: “After your

experience, you know what to look for and it experience, you know what to look for and it makes it more real, and you can take out of it makes it more real, and you can take out of it what you need”what you need”

Need to first create own vision of worldNeed to first create own vision of world Tess: Classmates had at least 2 years Tess: Classmates had at least 2 years

experience w/ 1 year in development contextexperience w/ 1 year in development context

Survey Questions & Survey Questions & AnswersAnswers9.9. For someone who wants to contribute to For someone who wants to contribute to

international development but doesn’t international development but doesn’t want to do grad studies, what are the want to do grad studies, what are the best ways that she can get involved best ways that she can get involved through her professional career?through her professional career?

Find opportunities to contribute to your Find opportunities to contribute to your profession (ex. international firms)profession (ex. international firms)

““Get some kind of change going inside Get some kind of change going inside profession that [engineers] have to work with profession that [engineers] have to work with people and not just for the people”people and not just for the people”

Get practical experience, but be aware you Get practical experience, but be aware you will need to “invest in yourself”will need to “invest in yourself”

LEARN about developmentLEARN about development


10.10. Would a person run into any Would a person run into any ceilings later on in her ceilings later on in her professional life if she didn’t professional life if she didn’t have a graduate degree in have a graduate degree in development?development?

Engineering is better than most fields Engineering is better than most fields – practical experience is valued– practical experience is valued

Very competitive fieldVery competitive field Get at least diploma levelGet at least diploma level

Survey Questions & Survey Questions & AnswersAnswers11.11. In your opinion, what are the biggest In your opinion, what are the biggest

needs of the development sector needs of the development sector (policy, governance, field workers, etc)?(policy, governance, field workers, etc)?

Trend where southern governments will want Trend where southern governments will want more control over their developmentmore control over their development

Poorer countries will need traditional aid for Poorer countries will need traditional aid for a long period of timea long period of time

AIDS – What will happen?AIDS – What will happen? Need for people at all levels with technical Need for people at all levels with technical

background but also a strong handle on background but also a strong handle on “soft” side of development“soft” side of development

Canadian Grad Canadian Grad ProgramsPrograms St. Mary’sSt. Mary’s

– MA in IDS (2 years)MA in IDS (2 years)– Graduate Diploma (8 months)Graduate Diploma (8 months)– Core areas: Environment and Development, Core areas: Environment and Development,

Development Theory, Gender and Development Theory, Gender and Development Rural Development, & Development Rural Development, & Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development

– http://www.arts.smu.ca/ids/http://www.arts.smu.ca/ids/

DalhousieDalhousie– MA in IDS (2 years)MA in IDS (2 years)– http://www.dal.ca/~intdwww/index.htmlhttp://www.dal.ca/~intdwww/index.html

Canadian Grad Canadian Grad ProgramsPrograms GuelphGuelph

– Add International Development Studies to MA, MSc, Add International Development Studies to MA, MSc, or MBA (2 years)or MBA (2 years)

http://www.uoguelph.ca/cids/http://www.uoguelph.ca/cids/– MA or MSc in Rural Planning & Development (2 MA or MSc in Rural Planning & Development (2

years)years) http://www.uoguelph.ca/sedrd/RPD/http://www.uoguelph.ca/sedrd/RPD/

CarletonCarleton – MA in IA at Norman Patterson School of MA in IA at Norman Patterson School of

International AffairsInternational Affairs http://www.carleton.ca/npsia/http://www.carleton.ca/npsia/

– MA in Poli SciMA in Poli Sci http://www.carleton.ca/polisci/http://www.carleton.ca/polisci/

Canadian Grad Canadian Grad ProgramsPrograms UofTUofT

– MA in Poli Sci (Development Studies)MA in Poli Sci (Development Studies) http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/polsci/http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/polsci/

UBCUBC– Graduate CertificateGraduate Certificate

http://cic.cstudies.ubc.ca/cid/http://cic.cstudies.ubc.ca/cid/

SFUSFU– Graduate Certificate WITH Master’sGraduate Certificate WITH Master’s

UK Grad ProgramsUK Grad Programs

LSE Development Studies InstituteLSE Development Studies Institute– 1 year MSc programs (lots of them!)1 year MSc programs (lots of them!)

http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/DESTIN/study/http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/DESTIN/study/Default.htmDefault.htm

– External Study Program!!!External Study Program!!! http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEExternalStudy/http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEExternalStudy/

Programmes/Default.htmProgrammes/Default.htm

Cambridge Cambridge – MPhil in Development Studies (Land Economy)MPhil in Development Studies (Land Economy)

http://www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk/http://www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk/– Centre of African StudiesCentre of African Studies

http://www.african.cam.ac.uk/http://www.african.cam.ac.uk/

UK Grad ProgramsUK Grad Programs

OxfordOxford– Queen Elizabeth House Centre for Queen Elizabeth House Centre for

Development StudiesDevelopment Studies http://www2.qeh.ox.ac.uk/ http://www2.qeh.ox.ac.uk/

SussexSussex– Centre for Comparative Study in Culture, Centre for Comparative Study in Culture,

Development, & EnvironmentDevelopment, & Environment http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/teach/pg.htmlhttp://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/teach/pg.html

– Institute of Development StudiesInstitute of Development Studies http://www.sussex.ac.uk/development/http://www.sussex.ac.uk/development/

WebsitesWebsites

http://www.arts.yorku.ca/ids/gradhttp://www.arts.yorku.ca/ids/graduate/schools.htmluate/schools.html

www.idsnet.orgwww.idsnet.org http://www.isp.msu.edu/CASID/http://www.isp.msu.edu/CASID/

– Centre for Advanced Study in Centre for Advanced Study in International DevelopmentInternational Development

Contact usContact us

Avi – [email protected] – [email protected] Meghan – Meghan –

[email protected][email protected] Evelyn – [email protected] – [email protected] Dallas – [email protected] – [email protected] Mike – [email protected] – [email protected] Sara – [email protected] – [email protected]

Documents

Graduate Studies in International Development