International development

Global Development Challenges and Innovation

Module code: AF002
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you'll study two related areas of development:

• global challenges
• innovative responses to these challenges.

Global challenges will be presented by experts in the field. You'll:

• explore how problems are defined, measured and recorded
• look at international development processes (SDGs and MDGs) to understand how corresponding actions are determined across scale, from the global to the local level.

You will work in groups to develop an in-depth understanding of a specific country’s response to the development challenge outlined in the previous week’s lecture. In these groups, you'll draw on multimedia resources and your own creativity to explore:

• how responses are developed and by who
• how they are financed and communicated
• how support is mobilised
• different ways to measure their success or failure.

Module learning outcomes

• 1. Develop a critical understanding of key development challenges.
• 2. Demonstrate a capacity to critically reflect on the politics and processes that underpin responses to development challenges
• 3. Engage effectively and creatively in collaborative activities with others to achieve common goals that reflect the potential needs of future employers
• 4. Demonstrate good writing skills that showcase the student’s ability to be reflexive and to engage with academic and policy literature.