Poverty
Reduction: Policy and Practice (MSc, Postgraduate Diploma and
Postgraduate Certificate)
Is this
programme for me?
Poverty
reduction is a key focus of the Millennium Development Goals and
is at the heart of international, national and NGO development
objectives and activities. Recent achievements in poverty
reduction have varied widely across and within countries,
regions, and social groups.
This programme
focuses on rural areas which, despite growing urbanisation,
continue to be home to the majority of the world’s poorest
people. It examines the complex nature of poverty, its causes,
and processes of poverty reduction.
A key feature
of the programme is a unique partnership with the Consultative
Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). This has
led to the involvement of key professionals from specialist
CGIAR institutes in the design and development of the programme
and of specific modules within it. These modules thus take
advantage both of relevant professional expertise from
specialist CGIAR institutes and of wider development and
distance learning expertise of the Centre for Development,
Environment and Policy (CeDEP), SOAS and the University of
London.
Programme aims
The purpose of
this programme is to enable students to acquire and build
multi-disciplinary
knowledge which integrates scientific, technological and
economic insights and skills to enable them to analyse and
address the poverty reduction challenges of this millennium. The
programme will give students the opportunity to develop:
-
a critical,
inter-disciplinary, integrative and global perspective on
poverty reduction issues
-
a theoretical
approach to intellectual enquiry of poverty reduction issues,
which nevertheless emphasises the integration of theory and
practice
-
broad
understanding of ideas and approaches for managing
organisations within their cultural, political, technological,
social, and institutional contexts, to solve problems related
to poverty reduction.
Programme
summary
|
|
You study
|
Study period
|
Cost (2011)
|
|
MSc |
10
modules |
2-5
years |
£9,200 |
|
Diploma |
8
modules |
2-5
years |
£7,215 |
|
Certificate |
4
modules |
1-5
years |
£3,770 |
|
Short courses
|
Single modules are ideal if you're keen to update
your professional knowledge, enhance your career or
sample the programme. Short course students who
subsequently register for either the MSc or
Postgraduate Diploma will be credited with any
modules completed successfully. In 2011, the fee per
module is £960. |
Career
progression
As with all
CeDEP programmes, the Poverty Reduction programme is designed to
assist both existing development professionals and people moving
into the field of international development. For the former, the
programme offers a chance to upgrade and update their
expertise, and to reflect systematically and in depth on their
accumulated experience in the
light of up-to-date theory and literature. It is anticipated
that most graduates of this programme will find work in:
-
government
ministries and other public sector organisations concerned
with policy analysis and implementation for poverty reduction
-
international
and non-governmental organisations concerned with issues of
poverty reduction
-
consultancies
and development projects involved in activities promoting
poverty reduction
Particular
opportunities may be related to choice of the specialisms in
natural resources
management, agricultural and rural development, or development
management.
Specialisms
MSc and
Postgraduate Diploma students may choose elective modules within
a particular specialism. Choosing a specialism creates the
opportunity for a clear focus in your studies, whereby you can
develop understanding and skills relevant to specific
professional interests. The name of the specialism will appear
on the certificate awarded.
Comprehensive
study materials and support
For each module
we send you detailed study guides, textbooks and supplementary
study materials which may include computer software. Most module
study guides are now provided in electronic CD-Rom format.
Tutorial support is via an online learning environment and
tutor-marked assignments. Increasing numbers of students
participate in electronic seminars and other networked
activities. This allows for a range of contacts and
peer-learning possibilities that will help to enrich the
distance learning experience.
Your time
commitment
The study time
required for each module is, on average, 7-8 hours per week over
a period of 30 weeks (plus 4 weeks for revision).
Summary of key
dates
|
Application deadline |
30 November |
|
Registration deadline |
31 December |
|
Programme starts |
February |
|
Examinations take place |
October |
