KEY POINTS:
Postgraduate Development Studies
University of Auckland Centre for Development Studies
Ph: (09) 373 7599 or 0800 61 62 63
Email: devstudies@auckland.ac.nz
www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/subjects/ - DEVELOP
Entry requirements: BA with minimum of B grade average above stage two, majoring in one of the subjects available for BA (Hons) in Development Studies or a subject approved by Director of Development Studies.
Application closing dates: Beginning of second week of December. Late applications considered but no place guaranteed.
Course costs: About $5200 a year.
Starting salary: $35,000 - $45,000
Development Studies prepares students for employment in local, national and international organisations involved in development, or an academic career.
Development Studies looks at the theory behind why and how societies, regions and communities change in a way that enhances the standard and quality of life among local populations.
It also looks at how governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international donors and other development agents can facilitate such change.
There are three core papers. One looks at the history of development studies since 1945. The second covers contemporary theories and issues. The third is a practical paper that concentrates on development approaches across a range of development agencies and organisations, such as World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and the International Monetary Fund.
Other papers can come from various disciplines, such as anthropology, politics, Pacific studies, Maori studies, education, history, sociology and economics.
Study can encompass local and international, with local covering a wide range of locally based community developments, including refugee and migrant services, NGO agencies, immigrant-based communities, iwi-based activities and housing projects.
In the second year (MA) there is the opportunity to do a thesis or undertake further taught courses. Internships can be done as a 15-point component, providing an opportunity for students to get voluntary agency work experience to back up their study.
Four NZ universities offer postgraduate development studies.
THE GRADUATE
David Waite, 27
Policy and research adviser for Ascari Partners, a public policy consultancy firm.
Completed Master of Arts: development studies end of 2005.
As policy and research adviser, I provide advice to local, regional and central agencies on policy around urban growth and development.
I developed an interest in issues relating to economic growth and modernisation while doing my commerce degree, particularly through my international business major. I realised I wanted to know more about the many debates that surround these concepts, including their social and cultural implications.
Development studies offered the opportunity to learn more about how development works on the ground. I found development practice, one of the core papers, particularly interesting because it introduced new knowledge about how development projects are set up, implemented and evaluated.
I also did papers such as political economy of globalisation and economics of development. Students took papers from a wide range of disciplines, such as sociology, human geography and politics. Having such a range of values and perspectives led to enriching debate and discussion.
I think the main advantage of having a master's in development studies is that it has developed my ability to think critically and widely about issues from many perspectives. There are few absolutes in development studies. Best practice works differently in different places depending on the place, culture and so on.
We also learned to write concisely and clearly and we developed strong research skills.
Fellow graduates are working in places like the Ministry of Health, Trade and Enterprise New Zealand and NGOs, here and in the Pacific.
THE EMPLOYER
John Williamson
Director, Ascari Partners
We specialise in consulting in areas of urban and economic growth, international development, social policy and organisational performance. We have 17 staff, all master's graduates. Three are development studies graduates and they are brilliant.
I feel David's development studies background is very helpful to us. A lot of the work we do is essentially helping public sector agencies understand and respond to opportunities of growth in the Auckland region, from big transport issues to certain theoretical issues. These are development issues in a city that is developing at a reasonably fast pace.
We wanted a master's graduate who was intelligent, could deal with a range of problems and could bring a research-led perspective to the company. We wanted someone with current intellectual thinking, who was up to speed with new concepts in economics and related things.
There are significant differences between master's study and being in the workplace.
Master's students learn to write good research pieces but that is different from writing in the workplace for different audiences such as interested and uninterested non-experts. There is a real challenge in listening to an audience and taking different approaches to get a point across without being condescending. University doesn't really prepare people for that.
David progressed from the academic to the real world quickly, and developed those communication skills well.
