COURSE CURRICULUM

The MSc Global Development Management course at UEA offers a comprehensive and critical foundation for those aiming to work in development practice and project implementation. Over the course of one year, students gain both practical skills and theoretical insights necessary for managing development projects in a rapidly changing global context. The program begins with core training in key analytical tools and project design techniques, enabling students to effectively manage development interventions while remaining critically aware of the limitations and political contexts of such tools. A strong emphasis is placed on understanding the historical and evolving landscape of development thinking, from post-World War II ideologies such as modernisation theory and the Washington Consensus, to contemporary approaches centred on rights, equity, and sustainability. The course explores the challenges of decolonising development, the impact of emerging actors, and shifts in funding models like philanthrocapitalism and private sector partnerships. Students engage deeply with theoretical and practical components through compulsory modules. These include Development Perspectives, which contextualises the evolution of development thought; Project Design and Management, which focuses on practical planning skills and team-based proposal development; Globalisation, Business and Development, which examines corporate influence and resource extraction in developing regions; and Research Approaches, which prepares students for their dissertation or analytical report through training in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Overall, the course prepares graduates to navigate complex development environments with a mix of technical competence and critical insight, equipping them for roles in NGOs, international agencies, and government sectors focused on global development.