ESDA Master's Programmes - UNU-ISP - United Nations University

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― SUSTAINABLE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENTIN AFRICA PROGRAMMEProgramme aim:The Sustainable Integrated Rural Development in Africa Programme seeks to impart in practicalways the knowledge and skills required for reducing poverty and improving human living conditionsin rural Africa. This two years training-of-trainers Master’s Degree programme in four WestAfrican universities targets actual or potential rural development practitioners. A PhD componentin the University of Ghana aims at developing the critical instructional mass for sustaining theprogramme.Degree awarded:Master’s in Sustainable Integrated Rural DevelopmentInstitutions offering the degree:University of Ghana, Legon, University for Development Studies, Tamale, and Kwame NkrumahUniversity of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in Ghana; University of Ibadan, Ibadan, NigeriaDate of programme initiation:August/September, 2013Length of study:two yearsNumber of student intake (per year):Initially up to 10 students at each universityProgram description (including target students, unique curricular features, participatingfaculties & departments)SIRDA is designed for parallel implementation by the following West African universities:• University of Ghana (UG), through its Department of Geography and Resource Development• University for Development Studies (UDS, Ghana), through its Department of Extension• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Ghana), through its Bureauof Integrated Rural Development as all in Ghana• University of Ibadan (UI, Nigeria), through its Centre for Sustainable Development.Uniqueness of the programme lies in its innovative combination of the following into a unified ruraldevelopment training strategy:• Holistic perspective• Integrated multidisciplinary methodology• Endogenous approaches• Participatory community-based field-oriented work• Built-in capacity to generate employment for university graduates and rural youth.Programme emphasis upon practical training through application of appropriate developmenttheories will:a) Generate positive synergies between the theories and practical experiencesb) Enhance the capacity of graduates and the rural communities for self-employment andengagement in the public sector.8 ESDA Master’s Programmes
Courses comprise core ones focused on solidifying theoretical andmethodological foundations, and elective ones categorized into environmental,economic/livelihood, and social, which are more practiceoriented.They are taught in an interdisciplinary fashion by instructorsdrawn from the Faculties of Social Science, Agriculture and Science,and from other relevant academic units of the implementing universities.The teaching involves collaboration with external experts.In the first year, admission to the programme may be limited to5-10 candidates per university.Structure of CurriculumThe programme comprises approximately 25 courses, includingabout 12 core ones mainly of a theoretical and methodological charactersuch as:• Theories and Policies of Development with special reference to rural Africa• Community-Resident Practical Training in Integrated Participatory Rural Development• InternshipThe rest are electives of a more practical nature, which are categorized into:• Environmental, such as Waste Management• Economic/Livelihood, such as Alternative Income Generating Activities• Social, such as Gender and Rural Development.To qualify for the degree, a candidate must pass all the core courses including seminars and thesis,plus an optional one taken from any of the three elective categories.top:Prof. Gyasi relatingto workshop participantsnear Aburitown, en route to aSLaM project area, aprospective localityfor ProIRD fieldworkin Akuapem district,cradle of Ghana’scocoa industry.bottom:Discussion and evaluationafter inspectionof agrodiversefarm.Pedagogy involves: student-centred approach; conventional face-to-face classroom methods;modular presentations; laboratory work; field demonstrations; group discussions; attachment;digital education modes including interactive TV/Video and website/online platforms.Performance assessment methods include term papers, seminar presentations, and end ofsemester examination. Evaluation by external examiners and reviewers and by students andtheir instructors alike would ensure quality.Comment from Prof. Edwin Gyasi (University of Ghana)The central characteristic feature of SIRDA is its departure from conventionalpostgraduate programmes by the emphasis placed upon practical training through theapplication of relevant theories and models to address real environmental, economic, andsocial factors (e.g., land degradation, poor entrepreneurial opportunities, and genderbiases) that condition the poverty and constrain sustainable development in rural Africa. Afurther distinguishing feature is the interdisciplinary, people-centred, participatory, andcommunity-based approaches. Others include the emphasis upon field demonstrationsand hands-on training through internship, and the parallel programme implementation byfour separately located universities with the collaboration of other institutions, to enhancesynergies and spatial, environmental, economic and social impacts.ESDA Master’s Programmes9
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ESDA Master's Programmes - UNU-ISP - United Nations University

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