The Master of Arts in Development Management

The application period for the MADM Bochum intake 2024-26 has started in January 2023. Details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section MADM Bochum. 

Since mid-2000, the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy offers an international English-language Master Programme in Development Management at the Ruhr-University in Bochum. Since May 2002, the programme has also been offered at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa; originally as part of the DAAD initiative "German Programmes of Study Abroad" and now as part of the DAAD funded "South African - German Centre for Development Research". The duration of each programme cycle is three semesters (18 months). For each intake, around 30 students are accepted.

The following links and pages explain the aims and objectives of our MA programme, its organisational and formal requirements, and details addressing frequently asked questions:

{slider title="Our Aim" open="false"}
The aim of the 18-month MA in Development Management is the training of professionals to meet the increasing need for experts in programme and project management that has emerged in international development cooperation. The course provides the student with the necessary tools to deal with the practical problems of managing development programmes and projects: an introduction to theory for embedding them in a wider context, an interdisciplinary approach to methodology based on case studies for concrete analysis and the application of theoretical and methodological knowledge.

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• BA or relevant degree in political science, social science, law, economics or geography or in other subjects related to the planning and evaluation of development programmes and projects
• Certified experience related to the management of development programs and projects, either practical work experience of more than four weeks or academic experience in research and teaching at an institution of higher education; for DAAD-EPOS applicants at least two years' career experience in a relevant field is required; preference is given to candidates whose employers offer a reintegration guarantee
• Demonstrated knowledge of spoken and written English (TOEFL 79- 80 internet based (equivalent to 213 computer based or 550 written) or IELTS: band 6)

{slider title="Practical Relevance"}
An important question often posed by potential students and applicants is, "What can I gain as additional qualification from this MA Programme?" Besides the academic qualifications we are imparting and teaching, one main characteristic of our programme is its practical relevance. This starts with the internship, which is arranged by the institute, complemented with continuous career counselling, establishment of a scientific network within the institute through alumni management, and the integrated PhD in International Development Studies. The IEE proudly states that over 85% of our MADM graduates are now working as professionals in the field of development cooperation.

{slider title="Training of Intercultural Competence"}
Through participation in the MADM students will strengthen their intercultural competence. Intercultural skills are trained during an optional weekend seminar Intercultural Communication and Teambuilding at the beginning of the programme and throughout the whole study period through ongoing work within a student group, typically coming from more than 20 countries of the world per batch.

{slider title="Our Partner in Cape Town"}
Starting in mid-2000, the IEE has been offering its international MA in Development Management in cooperation with the Institute for Social Development (ISD) and the School of Government (SoG) at the University of the Western Cape. This is the first time that a German MA in Development Management is available in South Africa.

{slider title="More Information"}
For more information on the MADM please visit the following sections:

• "Programme Structure Master in Development Management"
• "Master in Development Management in Bochum, Germany"
  for all specific information related to the intake located in Bochum, Germany.
• "Master in Development Management in Cape Town, South Africa"

If you still have any questions feel free to contact us directly!
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The MA in Development Management has been accredited for the fourth time by AQAS in 2021. The accreditation period is 1 October 2021 - 30 September 2029

News and Announcements:

Regional Integration, Globalisation, Governance

In recent decades, globalisation and regionalisation or regional integration have become important and yet rather distinct phenomena catching the attention of scholars all over the world. Across different epistemological landscapes, these phenomena are indispensible in tracing, assessing and explaining processes of interaction between multifactors. In addition, governance has appeared as a recurring theme for investigating the numerous tracks, institutional backgrounds and outcomes of political and economic decision-making on the local, national and transnational levels. This research area sets out to shed light on those processes, motivations as well as their outcomes and impacts. Multifaceted methodological designs and intensive empirical field-work yield expertise and research of highly practical relevance.
A common frame for all studies within this research area is their focus on processes and activities that transcend national borders and the relationship of these processes to development. This includes studies on global and regional economic integration, including international trade, FDI and foreign debt, Intellectual Property Rights and global knowledge governance, and many more. These studies look at the respective economic as well as socio-political impacts of global processes on national or sub-national levels as well as on the ongoing power struggles between actors involved in the respective multilateral, regional and bilateral regimes. More specifically, some studies investigate the institutional preconditions of regional integration in different regions of the world. A set of studies on transnational governance analyses regulation processes of economic and non-economic matters, focusing on labour rights and environmental protection, among others. Related themes cover the transborder communication of social movements, which, inter alia, has been influential for recent policy ideas, such as food sovereignty. Social remittances that include communication between related groups across borders are another recurring theme for studies on migration. Furthermore, North-South and South-South-Cooperation are conceptualizations guiding studies in this cluster. Development Finance is another case in point.






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• Political Authority in Transnational Governance Arrangements: Regulation through Public and Private Labour, Social and Environmental Standards in the Asian Textile and Apparel Industry; a research project in cooperation with the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) of the University Duisburg-Essen; principal investigator at the Ruhr-University Bochum is IEE Director Markus Kaltenborn; the research team at the Ruhr-University comprises IEE member Johannes Norpoth and Nina Geerkens from the Faculty of Law; the project is financed by the German Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR).

{slider title="Trade, FDI, Intellectual Property"}

• A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Inclusive Economic Growth in Malawi and Zambia from 1970 to 2014 (PhD-Project Themba Nyasulu);
• Regional Integration in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment, South-South Cooperation (Matthias Busse, selection of current projects, further information available here);
• The Authorisation by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body to Suspend Obligations under the TRIPS Agreement: Challenges and Implementation Options for Developing Countries (PhD-Project Johannes Norpoth);
• Political Economy of International Trade Negotiations: EU-GCC Free Trade Negotiations, Open Regionalism Revisited: Chances and Risks of Overlapping RIAs, Economics of Conflict and Reconstruction in the Middle East (Anja Zorob);
• International Trade and Global Power Shift: U.S., EU and China´s race for power (PhD-Project Jan-Frederik Kremer);
• Foreign Direct Investment and its Impact on Productivity and Wages in the Host Economy: Evidence from Turkish Micro-level Data (PhD-Project (completed) Syeda Tamkeen Fatima).

{slider title="Regional Integration"}

• Regional Integration in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment, South-South Cooperation (Matthias Busse, selection of current projects, further information available here);
• Political Economy of International Trade Negotiations: EU-GCC Free Trade Negotiations, Open Regionalism Revisited: Chances and Risks of Overlapping RIAs, Economics of Conflict and Reconstruction in the Middle East (Anja Zorob);
• The Changing Relationship between Mainland China and Taiwan in the Light of the World Trade Organization (PhD-Project Qin Tang);
• Institutional Change in African Countries, Regional Co-operation in Africa with a Focus on West-Africa (Christof Hartmann, further information available here);
• Collective Identity and Prospects for Political Integration: The Case of the East African Community (PhD-Project (completed) Catherine Promise Biira).

{slider title="Development Finance"}

• External Debt: Impacts on Growth and Development under Sustainability and Debt Crisis (Dieter Bender, current project, further information available here).

{slider title="North-South-/South-South-Cooperation"}

• Asymmetries in South-South Cooperation - Brazil as a New Development Partner in Africa (PhD-Project Jurek Seifert);
• The Perception of the European Union as Environmental Actor in the Mediterranean Partner Countries (PhD-Project Jasmin Gerau).

{slider title="Migration"}

• Somali Diaspora Members as unofficial 'Development' Agents and Communicators in their Country of Origin. Visions and Challenges (PhD-Project Michele Gonnelli);
• Socio-Cultural Remittances and their Impact: A Study of Migrant Sending Communities in Rural Bangladesh (PhD-Project Maruf Lutfur).

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Cluster 1 News:

The Effectiveness of Interventions and Policies for Development: social, political and legal science perspectives

Research Cluster 2 is located at the crossroads of social, political, and legal science research in the field of development. We critically evaluate local development interventions through the application of social science theories and research, moreover we assess the legal and political framework into which development interventions are embedded on an (inter-)national level. This allows for rich discussions on selected focal topics – such as housing, conflict, governance, health, employment and education - from different disciplinary perspectives. From a methodological point of view, qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical social research as well as legal analysis and policy analysis are at the core of Cluster 2. The figure below gives an overview on the specific disciplines and major topics represented and discussed in our research cluster.

Cluster 2 News:

Resource Use and Distribution

A country's wealth of renewable and non-renewable resources is a weak indicator for its economic, social and political fate. The institute deals with resource use and distribution from a macro and micro perspective. One focal area of our research addresses the ambiguous effects of resource abundance and scarcity (e.g. fossil fuels or water). Another one investigates the impact of diverse factors, such as climate and technology changes, on the production and pricing of food.

Cluster 3 News:

PhD in International Development Studies

Since winter 2007, the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy has been offering an international English-language PhD programme in International Development Studies. It is implemented by the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy on behalf of the Faculties of Geography, Law, Social Science, and Economics. Up to 10 PhD candidates are accepted to the programme annually. The programme builds on three fundamental pillars: It is a structured PhD programme with a strong interdisciplinary and international focus.

 

The application period for the PhD IDS Intake 2023 expired, the application period for the Intake 2024 will start on 15 November 2023. The application deadline is 31 March 2024.
Applications have to be submitted via the online application platform (which is only open from 15th November 2023 on):
https://public.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/ps/iee

News & Announcements:

General News Introduction