Course overview

This course examines the plural and diverse roles that differing forms of education play in political, economic, and socio-cultural transformations in the Global South. It examines the positive contributions that education makes to equitable and sustainable development, and how it creates and perpetuates socio-economic and political inequalities.

The course will enable you to engage critically with global and national policies, strategies and programmes that promote inclusive education. You’ll learn about the experiences and viewpoints of people and nations of the Global South regarding education in development, as well as the inter-relationships between global, national and local actors.

You’ll assess progress made towards key global development goals and understand why this is often slow and uneven. Analysing the theories and realities of education in development, you’ll explore the different approaches, practices and discourses involved, and your own role in contributing to positive change.

Career opportunities

You’ll gain a wide range of professional skills on top of your subject knowledge, developing your ability to construct clear arguments, critically assess different options for action, analyse policy documents, write research reports and give presentations.

Our course equips you for various career paths. Compatible careers include working in international development agencies, international organisations, governments, politics, NGOs, research organisations, policy-making, companies, media, and academia.

Recent graduates have gone on to work in the UK and overseas for a range of organisations, including their national Ministry of Education, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Department, the British Council, Voluntary Service Overseas and other civil society organisations. Many also pursue further study by commencing PhD research.

Throughout the course, we’ll encourage you to seek practical work experience in the field of education in international development, and advise you on how to go about it.