Graduate Studies in International Development

1. Graduate Studies in International Development EWB National Conference January 21, 2006

2. Outline • Introduction • Survey • Participants, questions, and answers • Brief overview of some schools and programs

3. Introduction • History of International Development Studies (IDS) • 1960’s – Volunteering overseas with CUSO, VSO, & Peace Corps • 1970’s – First IDS program at Sussex (UK); copied in Africa • 1980’s – Decade of professionalization in ID • 1990’s to Present – Diversification of development job market

4. Survey Participants • Chris Smart – EWB advisory board member • Lea Johnson – Development practitioner & SFU professor • Tess Ocol – IDS Master’s grad from Sussex • Katharine Cross – Studying MSc in Environment and Development at LSE • Alex Conliffe – Studying MSc in Environmental Change and Management at Oxford • Scott Griffiths – Studying Master’s in Public Administration in ID at KSG, Harvard • Eliza Wadell – Studying MSc in Water & Environmental Management at Loughborough

5. Survey Questions & Answers • Is grad studies in development worthwhile? • “Yes” – very good sorting out exercise but you have to WANT to do it • Investment in time & money but worth it if you want to be in top percentage • “Helps contextualize development into broader framework” • Employers looking for 5+ years experience and/or masters • Worthwhile only if you choose a degree that suits what you want to do

6. Survey Questions & Answers • Should I take an interdisciplinary IDS program, or a more traditional disciplinary program (i.e. economics)? • Have to match person to program • Ask “am I private or public sector?” • Ask “am I a generalist or specialist?” • “Be clear about your sector, be clear about your specialty, be very choosy about your school” • Development is Interdisciplinary • Con – interdisciplinary programs can be taught at “lowest common denominator” level

7. Survey Questions & Answers • What are the best development-related grad programs in Canada? In the world? • Canada – Dalhousie, Guelph, St. Mary’s, Normal Patterson School of International Affairs (Carleton) • Sussex, Oxford, LSE, Cambridge • Eliza recommends Loughborough (Water Engineering & Development Centre) if you want Water and Sanitation

8. Survey Questions & Answers • How do Canada’s IDS programs compare with those from the UK or US? • Chris: Compare well, matter of emphasis • Lea: Canada is behind – “If you can afford it, go to UK” • No IDS in US – Area studies • UK – extremely international (37 people, 3 from UK, 50% from south) UK • More MSc options in UK • 1 year programs in UK, 2 years in Canada • EDUCATION vs. TRAINING

9. Survey Questions & Answers • Is it worth paying the big $$ to go to well-known schools? • “Wherever you go, you won’t waste money” • Cachet to big names – will help land jobs with big NGO’s/firms • Network, calibre of visiting speakers, reputation of profs, employers that come to recruit • Get feedback from students in course

10. Survey Questions & Answers • What is the difference between a grad certificate, diploma, and masters? What should I take? • Certificate is short – training (no evaluation) • Master’s proves yourself at higher level of academia • Diploma is pre-master’s • Chris: Do diploma or master’s – engineers don’t get much “education” • “Literacy” in development

11. Survey Questions & Answers • Should I take a practical or theoretical program? • Depends on interest • Ask “where do I want to be Monday morning?” • Master’s is more theoretical • Can get practical in industry or field • (Certificate program)

12. Survey Questions & Answers • How much experience is necessary before doing grad studies in development? • At least one “cycle of life” in the field • “However you do this, decide to do it for 10 years” • Lea – Minimum 5 years!: “After your experience, you know what to look for and it makes it more real, and you can take out of it what you need” • Need to first create own vision of world • Tess: Classmates had at least 2 years experience w/ 1 year in development context

13. Survey Questions & Answers • For someone who wants to contribute to international development but doesn’t want to do grad studies, what are the best ways that she can get involved through her professional career? • Find opportunities to contribute to your profession (ex. international firms) • “Get some kind of change going inside profession that [engineers] have to work with people and not just for the people” • Get practical experience, but be aware you will need to “invest in yourself” • LEARN about development

14. Survey Questions & Answers • Would a person run into any ceilings later on in her professional life if she didn’t have a graduate degree in development? • Engineering is better than most fields – practical experience is valued • Very competitive field • Get at least diploma level

15. Survey Questions & Answers • In your opinion, what are the biggest needs of the development sector (policy, governance, field workers, etc)? • Trend where southern governments will want more control over their development • Poorer countries will need traditional aid for a long period of time • AIDS – What will happen? • Need for people at all levels with technical background but also a strong handle on “soft” side of development

16. Canadian Grad Programs • St. Mary’s • MA in IDS (2 years) • Graduate Diploma (8 months) • Core areas: Environment and Development, Development Theory, Gender and Development Rural Development, & Economic Development • http://www.arts.smu.ca/ids/ • Dalhousie • MA in IDS (2 years) • http://www.dal.ca/~intdwww/index.html

17. Canadian Grad Programs • Guelph • Add International Development Studies to MA, MSc, or MBA (2 years) • http://www.uoguelph.ca/cids/ • MA or MSc in Rural Planning & Development (2 years) • http://www.uoguelph.ca/sedrd/RPD/ • Carleton • MA in IA at Norman Patterson School of International Affairs • http://www.carleton.ca/npsia/ • MA in Poli Sci • http://www.carleton.ca/polisci/

18. Canadian Grad Programs • UofT • MA in Poli Sci (Development Studies) • http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/polsci/ • UBC • Graduate Certificate • http://cic.cstudies.ubc.ca/cid/ • SFU • Graduate Certificate WITH Master’s

19. UK Grad Programs • LSE Development Studies Institute • 1 year MSc programs (lots of them!) • http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/DESTIN/study/Default.htm • External Study Program!!! • http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEExternalStudy/Programmes/Default.htm • Cambridge • MPhil in Development Studies (Land Economy) • http://www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk/ • Centre of African Studies • http://www.african.cam.ac.uk/

20. UK Grad Programs • Oxford • Queen Elizabeth House Centre for Development Studies • http://www2.qeh.ox.ac.uk/ • Sussex • Centre for Comparative Study in Culture, Development, & Environment • http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/teach/pg.html • Institute of Development Studies • http://www.sussex.ac.uk/development/

21. Websites • http://www.arts.yorku.ca/ids/graduate/schools.html • www.idsnet.org • http://www.isp.msu.edu/CASID/ • Centre for Advanced Study in International Development

22. Contact us • Avi – avi@magma.ca • Meghan – mk_myles@hotmail.com • Evelyn – evelynnoy@hotmail.com • Dallas – dallas@dal.ca • Mike – mikequinn@ewb.ca • Sara – sarat27@hotmail.com