External summary

We are living in an increasingly complex, often contradictory, fast changing world dominated by the climate emergency, the global cost of living crises and conflicts. Globalisation is creating new relationships between economies, societies and environments and this holds attendant promises and risks. To untangle and make sense of these complex relationships we need to ensure that people are trained to identify, analyse and engage with systems approaches, interdisciplinary perspectives and complicated and shifting policy environments.

The MSc in Global Challenges, delivered online, equips students with the knowledge and analytical tools to make a contribution to a future shaped by issues that cut across the traditions of science, medicine and the social sciences. The MSc draws upon a range of approaches and perspectives on global issues to deliver a curriculum that is highly interdisciplinary, challenging and cutting edge in context, delivery and scope.

The MSc programme is modular, allowing students to acquire the necessary credits over a flexible period of time (between 3 and 6 years), and is built around the delivery and coordination of 3 inter-related 60-credit Postgraduate Certificates. The MSc includes the Certificate in Global Development Challenges, the Certificate in Global Environment Challenges and the Certificate in Global Health Challenges.

Throughout core and elective courses, students develop and hone a range of critical thinking, analytical and writing skills, benefiting from a curriculum taught by leading experts on major contemporary global issues. Students also enhance skills for independent research and innovative investigation into the roles of academic study in relation to policy debates and practitioner experiences in international contexts.

Educational aims of programme

The programme draws upon a range of disciplines, approaches and perspectives to deliver a curriculum that is flexible and challenging. Specific aims are:

• Development of analytical and conceptual skills to enable critical investigation of global development inequities, global environmental inequities and global health inequities
• Thorough training in interdisciplinary policy analysis and international project evaluation, emphasizing the value of an in-depth understanding of complex inter-linkages between global development, global environment and global health challenges
• Thorough understanding of the strategies and organisations that shape responses to global challenges, including United Nations agencies, government agencies and other organisations
• Deepen appreciation of the diversity of local and global perspectives on contemporary case studies and the importance of framing and analysing certain challenges as ???global issues???
• Enhancement of knowledge and skills for pursuing careers in international agencies, NGOS, governments, the private sector or academia

All three Certificates draw on various case studies that highlight challenges and policy dilemmas in poorer countries and wealthier countries, especially examining material that analyses global debates in relation to contemporary experiences in Africa, Asia and South America.

Programme outcomes: Knowledge and understanding

• Global development issues, global health issues and global environment issues
• Theories underpinning international policy agendas
• Key issues and drivers of inequity in global, regional and comparative perspective
• Organisations and actors involved in shaping intervention processes and influencing development, environmental and health outcomes
• Tensions and complexities in institutional decision-making and societal responses to and engagement with key issues

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in Research and Enquiry

Intellectual skills

• Critical analysis of theories and practice
• Contextualise development issues, health issues and environmental issues in appropriate spheres of influence and analyse influences and potential determinants
• Ability to analyse key international and local policies from different perspectives
• Develop an insight into the interactions of knowledge that led to particular development, health and environmental outcomes and challenges

Professional/subject-specific/practical skills

• Ability to critically evaluate the factors shaping particular institutional processes and their outcomes
• Ability to appropriately apply theories and insights from scholarly research to practical issues and problems of inequity, linking policy and practice
• Ability and capacity to choose and apply the most appropriate research methods to a particular policy problem or case

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in Personal and Intellectual Autonomy

• Appropriate qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods
• Training in analysing policy documents and reports
• Critical evaluation of policy
• Preparation and presentations of reports and other communication skills
• Training to undertake advanced independent research
• Time management, resource allocation and interpersonal skills

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in communication

• Write in a variety of idioms and styles (essay, technical report, policy document)
• Engage in debate through fora (blogs, online seminars, discussion fora)
• Develop and deliver complex arguments through a range of media

Programme outcomes: Graduate attributes - Skills and abilities in Personal Effectiveness

• Organise time and sequence activities
• Ability to work alone or as part of a group
• Work to deadline and under pressure
• Professionally produce and edit written material
• Time management, resource allocation and interpersonal skills

Programme outcomes: Technical/practical skills

• Policy analysis
• Ability to deal with complex datasets
• Ability to evaluate complex problems
• Effective writing and communication through a variety of modalities

Programme structure and features

The section presents the structure of the programme in relation to the University???s Curriculum Framework.  It must include:

• SQCF credit points and levels for each constituent course and each year of the programme
• Degree Criteria:  to obtain an MSc in Global Challenges students must complete all three certificates (each 60 credits), totalling to 180 credits. Students must pass at least 140 credits at SCQF level 11 with a mark of at least 50% in each of the courses that make up these credits as well as an overall average of at least 50% over the 180 credits. Please refer to the Degree Programme Table (DPT) for more information.

• Entry requirements, including requirements for second-year entry where applicable
• Students may apply for entry into the 3-year MSc or the 3 - 6 Years (Intermittent Study) MSc
• Students can also enter the MSc by means of a programme transfer upon successful completion of one of the eligible PG Certificates
• Each Certificate is offered in a 12-month format. For the Development and Health Certificates, CHS and CMVM also offer an alternative 24-month format
• Students may take the Certificates in any order but will not be allowed to study multiple Certificates concurrently. The rigour and depth of material in the MSc Programme thus requires at least 3 years for students to complete. A break between Certificates is allowed but the MSc must be completed within 6 yea

• Progression requirements
• The typical progression through the programme would be as follows:
• If students elect to complete only one of the Certificates, they would, upon completion, receive a PG Certificate in that particular programme.
• If students complete a second certificate, they would receive a PG Diploma in Global Challenges.
• If students go on to successfully complete all three Certificates, they would receive an MSc in Global Challenges.

Teaching and Learning Methods and Strategies

• The range of teaching and learning methods used on the programme, by year of programme (including opportunities for feedback)

• Facilities (e.g. library; IT or any other distinctive facilities provided within the School)

Assessment Methods and Strategies

• Programme assessment methods, preferably by year of programme (including opportunities for feedback)

Please refer to the course descriptors.

Career opportunities

The programme provides a suitable qualification for students seeking careers in research, consultancy, non-governmental organisations, the public sector, the private sector, or in international development organisations, international health organisations and international environmental organisations. In addition, the programme provides a good basis for professionals wishing to re-train or improve their knowledge or analytical skills.

Other items

Not completed