ADMTPD: Theories and Practices of Development

Module code: ADMTPD

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Alex Arnall, email: a.h.arnall@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Explore contemporary theories and practices of international development. You will gain a broad and comprehensive understanding of the key ideas influencing efforts to reduce poverty and achieve social justice around the world. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe different approaches to development theory and practice, and their links to changing ideas about poverty reduction and social justice;
2. Explain the interrelationships between local, national and global development processes, and the different stakeholder groups that exist across these different levels; and
3. Critically reflect on their personal and professional development as a result of their engagement with the module content, as well as externally-organised events seminars and presentations.

Module content

ADMTPD is divided into four distinct but interrelated parts, each lasting 4-5 weeks. Part 1, Major Ideas in Development, introduces the main theoretical perspectives that have influenced development policy and practice over the past few decades. Part 2, Steering Development, examines some of the main ways in which development is steered, governed and managed. Part 3, Development and Mobility, introduces how human migration, displacement and resettlement are central to many development processes that we see today. Part 4, Questioning Development, looks at how mainstream (or ‘orthodox’) ideas in development have been challenged in recent years and how alternative ways of thinking about what development is have been proposed.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered via lectures, group discussions, problem-solving and ‘brainstorming’ activities, and independent study. New concepts and ideas are supported by national and local-level case studies from developed and developing countries.

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs