Studies
The Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs and Global Development Research Group invite interested individuals to apply for the tuition-free graduate studies programme: “Development Cooperation Policy and Management”.

Programme clientele
The “Development Cooperation Policy and Management” graduate studies programme is addressed to individuals who are currently, or are planning to become, involved in assistance projects or programmes directed towards under-developed countries, as well as individuals with an interest in good governance within the context of sustainable and equitable development on the global scale.

This programme is aimed primarily at members of institutions engaged in the delivery of development assistance, as well as the shaping and realisation of development policy on the national and European levels, such as: organs of public administration, non-governmental organisations and the media.

Applications are open to individuals who have completed MA-level studies. A good command of English is essential.  

Programme goals
The programme aims to offer participants conceptual and practical training to shape development policy, as well as plan and implement assistance projects and programmes in developing countries and countries undergoing transformation.


The programme will equip participants with a conceptual framework of knowledge on global development and on the institutional and political factors influencing international development cooperation, as well as with the practical skills of project cycle management.


Programme themes
The programme themes relate to the responsibility and competency areas that are key to contemporary approaches to international development cooperation. The course schedule includes 3 Blocks:

Block I: Introduction to global development issues   
•    Theories and strategies of socio-economic growth and development
•    Selected problems in development: modernisation, industrialisation, finance, trade, agriculture, urbanisation, migration, health, education
•    The socio-economic systems of developing countries and countries undergoing transformation
•    Political and institutional factors in development: the role of democracy, human rights and good governance in development and development cooperation

Block II: Development cooperation policy
•    The world aid system – evolution and actors
•    Official Development Assistance – classification and funding
•    Assistance management models in major donor countries
•    The Norwegian system of development cooperation
•    The EU system of development cooperation
•    The specificities of the Polish assistance system
•    Development assistance effectiveness and measures aimed at its improvement
•    Development cooperation in crisis situations

Block III: Managing development cooperation
•    The tools and structures of development policy
•    Elaborating Country Strategy Papers
•    Project cycle management in development assistance systems
•    Integrating cross-cutting perspectives into assistance actions

Course direction
Courses will be directed by distinguished experts from Poland and abroad, representing, among others, such institutions as:
•    the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs,
•    Université libre de Bruxelles,
•    the European Commission,
•    OECD,
•    the University of Warsaw,
•    the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities,
•    Global Development Research Group.

All Programme lecturers are actively involved in conceptual and/or field work in development cooperation. Among them are specialists responsible for the realisation of development assistance projects at various levels of European Union administration and in various parts of the world.

Programme schedule
The programme will take place over two semesters, during the period from October 2010 to June 2011. The programme consists of 220 hours including interactive lectures, seminars and workshops, as well as individual work with Programme experts.

All Programme activities will be held on weekends (Saturday, Sunday), in the main building of the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities (WSSSH), ul. Chodakowska 19/31, Warsaw.

Planned schedule of programme meetings for the winter semester:
•    9-10 October 2010
•    23-24 October 2010
•    6-7 November 2010
•    20-21 November 2010
•    11-12 December 2010
•    8-9 January 2011
•    22-23 January 2011

Note: the programme meetings may to be rescheduled at the organisers’’ convenience.  

Evaluation requirements
The Programme is divided into 3 Blocks, each of which will conclude with an examination. Programme certification is contingent upon passing grades in each of the three examinations, as well as participation in course meetings.

Recruitment
Applications for the Programme are open from 25 June to 24 September 2010.
  • To apply, fill out and submit the electronic application form at the WSSSH website here (additional information on graduate programmes offered by WSSSH may be found at www.podyplomowe.pl.
  • After having submitted the electronic application form, please send an electronic copy of your CV attached to an email addressed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it bearing the subject line: “Recruitment”.
  • The final stage of the recruitment process will consist of interviews with the applicants, which will take place on 27, 28 and 29 September.