An academic year at International Development Management consists of four blocks, each with one or two courses. You will spend about 15 hours in the classroom each week, and about 25 hours for teamwork and individual assignments. Year 1 is a more general year, after which you deepen your knowledge in years 2 and 3 with elective courses, two internships and a minor. You finish your study programme with a graduation assignment at an organisation or company.
In this year, you first focus on the international cooperation sector. Then you delve deeper into themes, together with lecturers who have a lot of experience in the field. For instance, you will investigate a climate crisis, learn what a production chain looks like and investigate equality and inclusiveness. You will learn how to interact with people from different cultures. And you will develop an open attitude and skills to collaborate and communicate in an international environment. You will put these tools and skills into practice during a trip abroad. And you will start learning a new language such as Spanish, and strengthen your academic English.
You follow these (and other) subjects in year 1:
The second and third years focus on further deepening your knowledge. In year 2, you complete a ten-week placement in the Netherlands or abroad, for example at Oxfam Novib, Amnesty International, Fairtrade International or the Red Cross. Afterwards, you conduct research for an organisation such as Save the Children or World Vision, learn about power structures and begin to specialise.
The relationship between people and nature is under significant pressure. In this specialisation, you learn how environmental damage, power inequality and human rights are interconnected. You investigate who is most affected by environmental issues and how communities can claim their rights. You work on fair and sustainable solutions for people and the planet.
Nature worldwide is under increasing pressure, affecting biodiversity, climate and community wellbeing. In this specialisation, you learn how nature can be protected, strengthened and restored in an international context. You work on issues related to sustainable land use, ecosystem restoration and the impact of European consumption and policy. You combine ecological knowledge with insights into policy, economics and social processes, and develop the skills to collaborate effectively with governments, businesses and civil society organisations.
Disasters and conflicts are having an ever greater impact on people around the world. You explore the connections between climate change, natural disasters, violence and migration. You learn how to strengthen community resilience and develop strategies for prevention, emergency response and post-crisis recovery.
Inequality based on gender, background or age leads to exclusion and polarisation. In this specialisation, you work on inclusive processes in which everyone can participate. You learn how power relations operate, how to strengthen the interests of marginalised groups, and how to contribute to a just and inclusive society.
Access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food is not a given. You investigate why hunger and food insecurity persist and how food systems can be made fairer and more sustainable. You develop solutions that make local communities stronger, healthier and more resilient.
Many global supply chains are unfair and unsustainable. In this specialisation, you critically examine how products such as coffee, cocoa and cotton are produced. You learn how to make these chains more equitable by strengthening the position of farmers and workers and by contributing to sustainable and inclusive trade.
If you did an internship in the third year, you would now do a minor. And vice versa. Finally, you throw yourself into a graduation assignment. You choose your own company or organisation in the Netherland or abroad and help think about the subject and the final product (such as a report, video or course).
| Year | Period 1 | Period 2 | Period 3 | Period 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
History of international development Working methods in international development |
Exploring food chains Climate and environmental crises |
From inequality to inclusion Inspiring for change |
Equitable and resilient food systems |
| 2 | International internship |
Research in action Power in transition |
course with forestry management 1 elective course (such as disasters & conflict or sustainable trade) |
2 elective courses (such as environmental justice or food security) |
| 3 | Multidisciplinary subject on stakeholder processes | Minor | ||
| 4 | Internship | Graduation project | ||
