Yearbooks

Programme: MPhil Development Practice (Coursework)

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Code Faculty
07255374 Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
Credits Duration
Minimum duration of study: 2 years Total credits: 180
Contact:
Mrs CD Abrams-Swarts
[email protected]
+27 (0)124204271

Admission requirements

  • Relevant Honours degree or equivalent with an average of at least 60%

or

  • A three-year degree with an average of at least 65% and relevant practical experience.

Program outline

The programme will take two years to complete and will consist of three elements, spread across two phases. The three elements are: theory, practice and leadership.
The first phase is called foundations and is aimed at equipping students with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to design and implement transformative development practices. During this phase attention will be given to two elements of the programme, namely coursework and leadership theory.
The second phase is called specialisation. During this phase students will be required to specialise, albeit in a limited sense, in a chosen developmental field. During this phase students will be embark on an internship in their chosen sector of specialisation and they will conduct a sector-specific research project. Students will in addition be embedded into service learning programme.
Five prescribed, compulsory modules, a leadership service learning course, a case study methods course and a mini-dissertation must be completed.

Students should register for all the modules. Students will only be allowed to register for Module 7 after 4 (four) coursework modules have been completed, thus with only 1 (one) coursework module and 1 (one) service learning module outstanding. Module 7 will comprise an internship and the documentation of a case study of development policy implementation. Students will be assigned to an internship institution according to their field of specialisation. Students will be equipped with the relevant theory and research skills to document and interpret a case study on policy implementation. Before embarking on the specialisation phase students will be required to reach a number of milestones, including a specified number of face-to-face meetings with supervisors, completion of a research methodology course, submission of a draft research design and literature review, submission of an updated research design and literature review and subsequent research proposal. In the specialisation phase of this track students will use their foundational knowledge and skills as basis to do fieldwork for the documentation of a particular case of development policy implementation. Students will be required to complete the case study in the months that follow their internship.

Other programme-specific information

Presentation method

  1. The duration of the programme is two years, and is presented every year.
  2. The modules that constitute the first year of the programme are presented on a weekly basis for the duration of the year.
  3. During the second year of the programme students will be required to attend weekly on-site modules during the first term, after which they are expected to embark on off-site internships. At least three months, or one term, of the completion of their case study should take place in Pretoria.

Examinations and pass requirements

Promotion requirements

  • Candidates must obtain at least 80 credits in the first year to register for the second-year modules.
  • Candidates will not be allowed to register more than twice for the same module.
  • Candidates must pass five modules before the case study may be submitted for evaluation by the study leader.

A maximum of two years after first registration will be allowed for the completion of the degree provided that the Dean may, in exceptional cases, and on recommendation of the head of the department concerned, approve a fixed limited extension of the period of study.

Minimum credits: 90

Core modules

Minimum credits: 90

Core modules

  • Module content:

    An internship and the documentation of a case study of development policy implementation will expose students to the practice of development policy implementation in Africa. Students will be assigned to an internship institution according to their field of specialisation. In addition to exposing students to the everyday realities of policy development and implementation the internship will provide students with the opportunity to document the implementation of a particular development policy. This will provide students with the opportunity to relate their foundational knowledge acquired in the theory track with the practice and complexity of policy implementation. Students will be equipped with the relevant theory and research skills to document and interpret a case study on policy implementation. Before embarking on the specialisation phase students will be required to reach a number of milestones, including a specified number of face-to-face meetings with supervisors, completion of a research methodology course, submission of a draft research design and literature review, submission of an updated research design and literature review and subsequent research proposal. In the specialisation phase of this track students will use their foundational knowledge and skills as basis to do fieldwork for the documentation of a particular case of development policy implementation. Students will be required to complete the case study in the months that follow their internship.

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The information published here is subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information. The General Regulations (G Regulations) apply to all faculties of the University of Pretoria. It is expected of students to familiarise themselves well with these regulations as well as with the information contained in the General Rules section. Ignorance concerning these regulations and rules will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression.

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