Graduate International Development Management, Wouter Bokdam, works as a Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor at Care Netherlands. "As a Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor, I work on increasing the resilience of the people most vulnerable to natural disasters like cyclones, floods, earthquakes and the effects of climate change. In addition, we train development workers to set up sustainable projects, which are also able to withstand natural disasters."
Content programme
Content programme: International Development Management
In International Development Management, you learn how to transform yourself into a change maker.
The study programme provides in-depth knowledge about global issues that impact people’s lives and our planet. You will start off by examining the development and aid sector in general. You will not only develop research and teamworking skills but also discover how organisations function in general.
This involves asking questions like:
- What are the primary causes and effects of climate change?
- How can people in rural areas be assisted in lifting their material well-being?
- How can we boost sustainable food production that has a lower impact on our planet?
To answer these questions, you will need to acquire experience and knowledge in the following areas: international collaboration, intercultural communication, natural disaster prevention and post-disaster reconstruction, fair trade and strengthening of rural societies. You will also learn how to set up projects yourself and find new solutions.
Your study career
In your second year, you will do an internship where you expand your knowledge and learn how to apply your skills in practice. You will also select a specialisation. The three options are Disaster Risk Management, Sustainable Value Chains or Rural Development and Innovation. You will then start to specialise by completing a minor to increase your knowledge and broaden your expertise. In your third year, you will do another internship where you can put your skills and knowledge into practice. You will round out the programme by working on a graduation project for a company or organisation. The whole study programme and its specialisations are offered in English.
Sample programme structure
| Year | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Understanding the international development sector Development & Sustainability | Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Applied Research for Development | Project Management Organisation and company orientation | Innovations for Development Contested Global Issues |
| 2 | Internship (abroad) | Sustainable Production and Fair Trade Principles Applied Research for Development | Disasters, Conflict and Responses Entrepreneurship | Local Food Chains for Regional Development Building resilient communities |
| 3 | Facilitation of Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships | Participative Planning | Internship (abroad) | |
| 4 | Minor at another university | Graduation | ||
"Working on the resilience to natural disasters"
