Postgraduate Course: Key Skills in Development Practice (ODL) (AFRI11006)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The over-arching objective of this course is to provide students with the skills necessary to work effectively in the fields of international development and humanitarian intervention. Whilst being specially tailored for those wishing to develop a career in the development sector - regardless of discipline or orientation - the course's applied nature still encompasses and fosters skills which are key for practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, and engaged citizens alike. Students gain skills to employ, critically evaluate, and analytically assess methods, tools, and techniques related to dominant development discourses and trends.
In this vein, the course offers a rigorous examination of the key frameworks, tools, and instruments used in the practice of development. Students will investigate various practical approaches used in the planning, implementation, and assessment of development projects: monitoring and evaluation, theory of change tools, engagement with enterprise and business for development, funding applications and campaigns, and in-country communications, amongst others.
Because of its applied nature, the course aptly complements those currently offered through ODL, and balances the curriculum of the proposed MSc in International Development. Students in the virtual classroom personify rich, diverse academic and professional backgrounds; various generations; numerous physical geographic locations; and equally varied career ambitions. Many specifically enrol in ODL programmes to advance in current or pursue future career ambitions. They should have the same opportunity as their on-campus counterparts to benefit from such a practice-focused course. Its inclusion in the ODL MSc in International Development is expected to attract more students and augment the popularity of the programme.
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| Course description |
This course exposes students to key frameworks, tools, and instruments used in the actual, day-to-day practice of development. During the course, lecturers will guide students' investigation of practical approaches and tools routinely employed by a host of actors in the planning, implementation, and assessment of development projects. These instruments include, but are not limited to: monitoring and evaluation, theory of change tools, stakeholder analysis, funding applications for development organisations, and engagement with enterprise and business for development.
The course format is a mixture of pre-recorded lectures, asynchronous discussion boards, and online practical exercises. Due to the practical nature of many topics treated in the course, students are expected to participate in many collaborative activities and discussions, focusing on case studies, conceptual analyses, and practical lessons. Videos from the Bigger Picture Project, a University of Edinburgh initiative that bridges practice and research in International Development, as well as those recorded from guest speakers for the on-campus Key Skills in Development Practice on-campus course, will all be paired with lecturers. The latter ensure that students understand key concepts, theories, and debates associated with each week's topic. The former expose students to the experiences, challenges, and reflections of practitioners who employ these tools working in NGOs and development organisations. Their contribution enhances students' exposure to and interaction with the real-world practice of development.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Students will be assessed on three formal assignments, two of which are part of a formative assessment and feedback process, and the third which is summative:
(i) Participation in online discussion forums (10%); students will be marked according to (1) the frequency and consistency of their contributions; (2) the quality of their contributions (engagement with and reference to relevant readings, concepts, and theories; justified use of case studies and / or examples; critical assessment and analysis of key debates); and (3) commitment to fostering the on-line discussion community. Students are expected to demonstrate growth and improvement in the quality of their contributions throughout the course.
Consideration will be given to students¿ diverse communication and learning styles, language skills, and mitigating circumstances as communicated to lecturers (competing professional responsibilities or unforeseen complications, for example).
(ii) Portfolio of the online presentation or the written policy brief and an assessment of the online presentation or policy brief submitted by a colleague (peer-to-peer feedback) (30%). These activities are designed to help students develop their ideas; engage with and critically analyse key literatures and debates; and formulate and structure persuasive arguments grounded in theoretical and / or empirical evidence. They are also mock trials of some of the practical tasks they would be asked to complete should they pursue careers in the development sector. Thus, they require both academic and practical skills.
Whether the student chooses the policy brief or the presentation, it will be focused on an aspect of global poverty, with the audience being policy-makers (1,500 words for the policy brief, or 10-15 minutes for the online presentation [the estimated spoken equivalent of 1,500 written words]).
Students will receive informal feedback on these assignments from lecturers and peers prior to final submission.
(iii) A 2,500-word final essay (60%). Students will be asked to choose a tool, instrument, or approach discussed in class and used by development agencies and critically review |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically examine the relationship between development thinking and development practice.
- Appraise and utilise appropriate practical tools and instruments.
- Utilise skills learned in key areas of development practice such as monitoring and evaluation, writing policy briefs, participatory appraisals, and meta-analysis.
- Effectively communicate one¿s analyses of international development and humanitarian intervention approaches, policies, and programmes to popular and academic audiences alike.
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Reading List
1. Indicative Readings:
Books
Scheyvens, Regina (2014, 2nd edition) (eds), Development Fieldwork: a practical guide, SAGE publication.
Carden, Fred (2009). Knowledge to Policy: Making the Most of Development Research, International Development Research Centre and Sage.
Desai V. and Potter Robert B. (2006), Doing Development Research, SAGE.
DFID. 2002. A Tools for Development: a handbook for those involved in development activity. Department for International Development.
Mikkelsen B. (2005), Methods for Development Work and Research, second ed., SAGE.
Thomas A. and Mohan G. (2007), Research Skills for Policy and Development. How to find out Fast, SAGE publications.
Sumner, A. and Tribe, M. (2008) International Development Studies: Theories and Methods in Research and Practice, Sage London.
Journals (all available online)
¿Development in Practice¿
¿Public Administration and Development¿
¿Journal of International Development¿
¿Aid Delivery Methods¿
¿Development and Change¿
¿Development Policy Review¿
¿Journal of Development Studies¿
¿IDS Bulletin¿
¿Voluntas¿
¿Word Development¿
A number of practical tools are available in the websites of different organisations, including the following webpages:
http://www.alnap.org/
http://www.odi.org.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development/about/research
http://www.ids.ac.uk/publications
http://go.worldbank.org/OOV98UC680
http://web.undp.org/evaluation/handbook/
http://www.sphereproject.org/
http://www.unocha.org/what-we-do/coordination-tools/needs-assessment
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development-professionals-network
http://www.crisisgroup.org/
http://www.eldis.org/
http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Rigorously evaluating policy using various frameworks.
2. Formulating arguments grounded on empirical findings.
3. Communicating well-researched arguments and analyses in manners to suit various audiences.
4. Exercising informed independent thought and critical judgment.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Katherine Symons
Tel:
Email: K.Symons@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Gillian MacDonald
Tel: (0131 6)51 3244
Email: gillian.macdonald@ed.ac.uk |
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