This postgraduate diploma addresses the needs of development managers as well as other professionals – such as engineers, health workers, educationalists, agriculturalists, bankers, scientists – who work in development contexts, local and global, with a view to bringing about good change. You'll gain a better understanding of the complex processes labelled 'development', with a particular focus on dealing with conflict and on building the institutions that make development sustainable. Alongside this, the diploma helps you build a range of development management skills, and encourages both critical reflection on how development is managed at present and creative thinking on how it might be managed better.
Key features of the course
• Explores the complexity of 'development' locally and globally
• Critically analyses development management, challenges conventional thinking, and encourages the creation of better approaches
• Builds a range of understandings and skills – conceptual, professional, and practical – for managing development
• Promotes competence in using key tools that contribute to development management practice
• Makes links between academic learning and professional practice, to the benefit of both
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management entitling you to use the letters PG Dip Dev Mgmt (Open) after your name.
Once you have completed the postgraduate diploma, you can gain the MSc in Development Management (F11) by completing a further 30 credits of study from the postgraduate diploma modules and a 30-credit development management project.
Recognition in your country
If you intend to use your Open University qualifications to seek work or undertake further study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether your intended qualification will meet local requirements for your chosen career. Read recognition in my country.
Credit transfer
If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution you may be able to transfer credit for this study and count it towards this Open University qualification. If you wish to apply to transfer credit you must do so as soon as possible as it may affect your choice of OU modules. If you are awarded credit for study completed elsewhere, you may find that you need to study fewer OU modules to complete your qualification with us.
Visit our Credit Transfer site for more information and details of how to apply for credit transfer.