Since its foundation as a Central Academic Institution of Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) in 1966, the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE) follows an approach to research that aims at finding theory-based solutions for real-world development problems.
IEE’s research aims at overcoming disciplinary silos and is based on the experience of around 40 researchers and PhD students with backgrounds in economics, law, geography, political science, and sociology.
With its postgraduate programmes (MA in Development Management, PhD in International Development Studies) the IEE follows the same approach and attracts a global body of students and young researchers to prepare them for future careers in development cooperation, in universities and think tanks.
IEE Milestones
2021
ADAPTED
ADAPTED is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network project funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for the period 2021-2024. Under the umbrella topic "Eradicating Poverty: Pathways towards Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals" it brings together five European Universities, important internationally active European development organisations and think tanks and six African partner universities. Coordinated by the IEE, 15 Early Stage Researchers are working on their PhD projects.
2021
2016
50 years IEE
In November 2016, the IEE celebrated its 50th anniversary with current and former colleagues, partners and friends.
2015-2017
Regulations in the Asian Textile Industry
As part of the activities of the UA Ruhr Graduate Centre the research project "Political Authority in Transnational Governance Arrangements: Regulation through Public and Private Labour, Social and Environmental Standards in the Asian Textile and Apparel Industry" aimed at analysing patterns of interaction of public and private regulation of labour, social and environmental standards in the textile and apparel industry in Bangladesh and Cambodia. Funding for the cooperative project between IEE and INEF has been provided by German Mercator Research Center Ruhr (MERCUR) for the period of two years.
2015-2017
2013-2018
Erasmus Mundus Project EUSA_ID
EUSA_ID stands for "Capacity Building in Higher Education for an improved cooperation between the European Union and South Africa in the field of Development Studies". The project has been funded by the EU as part of the Erasmus Mundus Action 2 Mobility Programme. Coordinated by the IEE, it brought together 7 European and 6 South African universities and additional associated partners and offered study, training and research periods in Europe for South African Master and PhD candidates and staff and provided European PhD candidates the opportunity to spend a research period in South Africa.
2013-2019
Urban Food Plus
As part of the BMBF funded project "GlobE-Urban Food Plus - African-German partnership to enhance resource use efficiency in urban and peri-urban agriculture for improved food security in West African cities" the IEE implemented a sub-project that aimed at assessing the economic impacts of innovations for improving soil fertility and irrigation in urban and peri-urban agriculture. More specifically, the sub-project looked at the welfare implications of introducing biochar as a soil amendment and safer irrigation options from the perspective of urban producers and consumers.
2013-2019
2011
UA RUHR Graduate Centre for Development Studies
Under the umbrella of the University Alliance Ruhr, the UA Ruhr Graduate Centre for Development Studies has been offically founded in 2022 as collaboration project between the Institute of Development Research and Development Policy (IEE), Ruhr-University Bochum, the Institute of Political Science (IfP), University Duisburg-Essen and the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF), University Duisburg-Essen. Complementary specializations in political science, economics, sociology and law benefit cooperation activities in research and postgraduate teaching. Joint cooperation links with international partners have been established by means of various externally funded international projects.
2008
South African - German Centre for Development Research
In 2008 the IEE together with its partner institutions at UWC established the the South African-German Centre for Development Research (CDR) as a platform for cooperative study programmes and research. The MA in Development Studies, the Master in Public Administration, the MA in Development Management (until 2023) and PhD options in Development Studies and Public Administration form part of the centre. Until the end of 2023, CDR has been supported by DAAD as part of the African Excellence Programme which has been funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.
2008
2007
PhD in International Development Studies started at RUB
2002-2023
First MADM Cape Town Intake
Two years after a highly successful start of the international master programme in Development Management, the programme was first offered at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa, supported as part of the DAAD programme line "German Study Programmes Abroad" funded by BMBF.
2002-2023
2002-2021
Afghanistan Cooperation
Since 2002, the IEE coordinated the training of Afghan University lecturers in the field of Management and Economics. The activities have been supported by DAAD and the World Bank.
2000
MA in Development Management at RUB started
The first intake of the interdisciplinary master programme in Development Management (MADM) arrives in Bochum marking the beginning of a unique international study programme which combines theoretical knowledge with provision of practical tools and knowledge for managing development projects. From the very beginning, the MADM has been supported by DAAD through provision of a limited number of scholarships for students from the global South.
2000
1997 - 1999
The Potential of Change in Southern Africa
The interdisciplinary research project "The Potential of Change in Southern Africa: On the Interdependencies of Economic Reform, Democratization, Human and Minority Rights" brought together the perspectives of different disciplines represented at the IEE.
1995 - 2005
Research Training Group 136
The DFG-supported Research Training Group brought together 12 Early Career Researchers and their supervisors under the thematic umbrella "System efficiency and system dynamics in developing countries"
1995 - 2005
1967 - 1975
SFB 20 Entwicklungsstrategien
The DFG funded "Sonderforschungsbereich" (Collaborative Research Centre) "Development Strategies" was one of the first externally funded activities of the IEE.
1966
IEE foundation
The IEE was founded one year after the foundation of Ruhr University Bochum as research institute that was part of the Economics department. In 1989 it was transformed into a central scientific unit of Ruhr University.
1966