Development Research Division | South African‐German Centre for Development Research and Criminal Justice

The MADM gives the student a solid theoretical background and introduces  the necessary tools for dealing with the practical problems of managing development programs and projects. Elements of the curriculum are:

• an introduction to relevant theories in social science and economics
• methods of empirical social research, project cycle management and reform managment
• the application of theoretical and methodological knowledge

During their first semester, students are given an multidisciplinary intro­duction to relevant theories and strategies of development. They learn about actors in international development cooperation and the role of institutions for development and will be faced with relevant case studies. Further, students will select a research problem related to a development program or project as the starting point for their own research project (MA Thesis). This project is preferably related to their home country.

After the first semester, students can undertake a two-month internship in Germany in a development organization or a corporation in the private sector.

Alumni testimonial by M.A. Edwin Msewa, Malawi

"It was one of my best experiences and I miss it a lot. I wish I could turn back the time"

Based on acquired knowledge of relevant theories and tendencies in international development cooperation, the second semester is taken up with learning about the variety of methods of program and project planning, implementation and evaluation. Students are required to apply their knowledge to case studies related to the program or project chosen in the first semester and to present the results in a seminar paper.

After the second semester, students undertake fieldwork on projects and programs in international development cooperation in developing countries. This will form the empirical basis of their MA Thesis project.

Alumni testimonial by M.A. M.A. Abdul Malek Halimi, Afghanistan

"I learned a lot especially in the field of development management. That is why, at present I am working very smoothly with NCPR and analyzing policy related issues that are very important for Afghanistan's short & long term economic development"

In the third semester, students concentrate on writing up their thesis which has to contain theory, methodology, and the results of the fieldwork. The thesis is designed to demonstrate the student's ability to embed the re­search in the scientific debate and to communicate it in a clear and cohe­rent way.

Course Structure MADM:

The MA in Development Management consists of preparatory, compulsory and elective courses.

preparatory:

• Introduction to the MA DM Programme
• Economic Tutorial

compulsory:

• Theories of Development and Underdevelopment: Social Science Perspectives
• Theories of Development and Underdevelopment: Economic Perspectives
• Methods of Empirical Social Research: Research Logic & Statistical Methods
• Methods of Empirical Social Research: How to Conduct a Field Survey

elective:

• Development Cooperation: Actors and Roles
• Public Sector Management
• Institutions and Development
• Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation
• Financial Management
• Economic Evaluation Methods
• Reform and Public Policy Management
• Economic Reforms, Income and Poverty
• Public Sector Reform
• Crisis Prevention and Conflict Management

More information about these courses is available from the section offered courses.