DV445
Cutting Edge Issues in Development Thinking & Practice
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Laura Mann
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MSc in Development Studies and MSc in Economic Policy for International Development. This course is available on the MSc in Development Management (Political Economy), MSc in Development Management (Political Economy) (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Health and International Development, MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies and MSc in Political Economy of Late Development. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: Places will be allocated with priority to ID and joint-degree students. If there are more ID and joint-degree students than DV455 can accommodate, these places will be allocated randomly. Non-ID/Joint Degree students will be allocated to spare places by random selection with the preference given first to those degrees where the regulations permit this option.
It is a compulsory course for all ID students.
Course content
The objective of the course is to introduce students to some of the most important and innovative voices and ideas in contemporary development debates, both from the academic and practitioner communities, which will both facilitate their `career paths’ and also contribute to learning in courses and consultancy projects. Each week speakers from different disciplines, development organisations or research institutes will speak to students about a “hot topic” in development policy and research work. Previous speakers have included senior economists, serving and former Government Ministers, NGO chief executives and senior staff, innovative academic researchers and consultants, among others.
Teaching
12 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
10 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn and Winter Term.
Lectures will be followed by open discussion and debate.
Assessment
This course is not assessed.
Key facts
Department: International Development
Course Study Period: Autumn and Winter Term
Unit value: Non-credit bearing
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 362
Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.