SP32021: Becoming a development professional: skills in practice
[Page last updated: 25 July 2025]
Academic Year: | 2025/26 |
Owning Department/School: | Department of Social & Policy Sciences |
Credits: | 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits] |
Notional Study Hours: | 200 |
Level: | Honours (FHEQ level 6) |
Period: |
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Assessment Summary: | CWSI 100% |
Assessment Detail: |
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Supplementary Assessment: |
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Requisites: | |
Learning Outcomes: |
By the end of the unit students will be able to:
- Understand the principles and practice of key skills required in international development work
- Apply key professional skills and approaches to practical challenges
- Undertake independent research, as part of a team, to address a development challenge
- Work effectively, collaboratively and reflexively |
Content: | Frameworks and theories of development intervention, incorporating material from relevant literature across, management, public policy and administration, third sector studies, complexity thinking and humanitarian action.
Historical reflections on the evolution of development management thinking and practice, with reference to both mainstream and critical perspectives.
Critical reflections on how power manifests itself and shapes people's abilities to participate in development.
Intervention models, tools, techniques and approaches, can include: traditional and modified project and policy cycles, participatory learning and needs assessment; logical framework analysis and theories of change; human-centred and participatory design; stakeholder and political economy analysis; monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, learning, accountability; budgeting and assessing value for money.
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Synopsis: | Gain introductory knowledge of the practice of development as a form of intervention.
Youll experience a practical, hands-on approach to learning. Youll work as part of a group to formulate responses to a real-life development challenge posed by a development agency.
In addition to working through online material, youll do independent research and co-operative learning with your classmates.
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Course availability: |
SP32021 is Compulsory on the following courses:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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