Course description

MSc Human Resource Development (International Development) will enable you to critically understand the role of human resource development (HRD) in supporting economic and social advancement, through the improvement of public services and the education of individuals, organisations and communities.

It aims to develop your critical appreciation of globalisation processes, policy initiatives and development management plans to support skills development, competitiveness and human capabilities, including development issues associated with eradicating gender inequalities, fostering human wellbeing and maintaining sustainable livelihoods.

You will gain greater professional understanding of HRD strategies and development tools to support skill and knowledge acquisition, and build organisation and community capabilities.

Our focus on developing human knowledge and skills will enable you to appreciate how education supports skills development. You will also acquire knowledge of the role of international organizations (through governments and MNCs) such as the World Bank and the United Nations (UN) in supporting education and development initiatives.

There is a strong emphasis on acquiring cross-cultural leadership knowledge, relevant for many social change and development projects in the public sector, or in the private sector, MNCs, NGOs or international organisations like the World Bank.

The course is ideal for individuals of any professional background in international organisations, public administration, transnational organisations and private sector companies who are involved in the HRD, leadership and capacity planning aspects of organisations in developing and transitional countries.

Aims

You will gain:

knowledge and understanding of the linkage between international development and HRD practices and policies;

knowledge of globalisation and cross-cultural actors affecting the application of HRD and education theories and methods in developing, transitional and newly industrialised countries;

knowledge of education and HRD interventions and their role in building leadership skills and capacity;

knowledge of how approaches to national human resource development (NHRD) affect organisation and societal performance in developing and transitional economies;

knowledge of how new approaches to HRD strategies including private sector management and development, social capital, knowledge management, gender planning affect the context for competence and performance enhancement in organisations and societies;

understanding of how to analyse and design HRD strategies at societal and organisational level;

Understanding of your own learning and leadership skills and how they may be improved.

Special features

We're the largest development-focused teaching and research institute in Europe, and have been at the forefront of development studies for more than 60 years.

We're ranked 14th in the world for development studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018).

We're dedicated to addressing global poverty and inequality.

Our research was ranked first in the UK for impact and second in the UK for quality in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014).

We're home to a multicultural community of 450 students from 30 countries.

We have numerous scholarship opportunities for outstanding applicants.

Our alumni are recognised for their contribution to global development across the globe.

The combined field experience of our staff covers 60 countries.

We've trained almost 10,000 individuals from more than 170 countries.

Many of our master's include fieldwork, giving you the opportunity to observe development interventions in situ and to reflect on how theoretical explorations of development are operationalised in the real world. Recent destinations include Uganda, South Africa and Cyprus. Find out more at Fieldwork .

Teaching and learning

Please note that field visits may be scheduled at any point during the course, including during University vacations. You are expected to be available to attend.

Part-time students complete the full-time programme over 27 months. There are no evening or weekend course units available on the part-time programme, therefore if you are considering taking a programme on a part-time basis, you should discuss the requirements with the Programme Director and seek approval from your employer to have the relevant time off.  Timetabling information is normally available from late August from the Programme Administrator and you will have the opportunity to discuss course unit choices during induction week with the Programme Director.

Coursework and assessment

The taught elements of the course, carrying 120 credits overall, is continuously assessed by a variety of methods (eg project-based reports, essays), involving largely individual submissions, but also elements of group work.

You must also complete a 12,000-15,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice approved by the Programme Directors. You are encouraged to base your dissertation on topics of direct professional concern.