Postgraduate Certificate in Global Development Management

Development management engages with the multiple challenges of ‘development’ and this qualification builds up the basic capacities for managing those challenges. Building on the global agenda for sustainable development, it assumes that development management is a political and ethical process, a matter of the use of power to bring about desired goals in contexts characterised by conflicts of interests, values and agendas. You’ll learn a range of skills needed by a development manager or practitioner to do with strategic thinking, research, advocacy, planning, policy making and evaluation.

Key features of the course

• Explores the complexity of ‘development’ locally and globally
• Critically analyses development management, challenges conventional thinking, and encourages the creation of better approaches
• Builds a range of understandings and skills – conceptual, professional, and practical – for managing development
• Promotes competence in using key tools that contribute to development management practice
• Makes links between academic learning and professional practice, to the benefit of both

Career relevance

Managers working in development contexts need the ability to appreciate the diversity and complexity of these contexts and the capacity to bring about good change. They also need the capacity to understand their own role and the roles of others in bringing about change that works. The module in this certificate provides an historical, interdisciplinary and international framework for analysing the contexts in which development interventions take place and a set of skills for planning, implementing and evaluating those interventions. They equip practitioners to make more effective contributions to the policy and practice of their organisations.

You need a UK bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), or have had experience of working, in a paid or voluntary capacity, in a development agency (international or local) prior to embarking on this qualification. However, these requirements are not compulsory and you will not be required to provide any supporting documentary evidence.