Greetings!
Welcome to the global network of Master's in Development Practice programs! After a rigorous selection process, nine universities were selected to receive seed funding to establish the first Master's in Development Practice (MDP) programs worldwide. Interest in the MDP degree far exceeded expectations. Over 140 letters of intent and 70 full proposals from institutions and institutions from 37 countries representing each major region of the world. Unfortunately, with a limited budget, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation could only support a small fraction of the programs. Consequently, the nine selected programs will join Columbia University to establish the global network of MDP programs:
The MDP
program is a two-year degree providing graduate-level students with the
skills and knowledge required to better identify and address the global
challenges of sustainability development, such as poverty, population,
health, conservation, climate change, and agricultural productivity. The MacArthur Foundation has committed $15 million to create MDP programs at up to 15 universities worldwide over the next three years. |
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Join the Global Network of MDP Programs
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The Global Network of Master's in Development Practice (MDP) programs, whose Secretariat is based at Columbia University's
Earth Institute, would like you to join
them in a very important project. They
are in the process of developing the Global MDP Affiliation and all
universities and academic institutions as well as development agencies or nonprofit organizations interested in the practice of
sustainable development are invited to join them.
Academic
institutions or universities do not have to receive funding from the MacArthur
Foundation to join the global network of MDP programs.
Some of the services and resources for members of the global network include:
- an online, open source library of case studies, course
curricula, and readings
- a "Global Classroom" featuring an online course in
"Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development" and other topics open
to participation by numerous universities
- assistance in developing new MDP programs, including curriculum
and strategic planning
- networking among a growing network of MDP universities,
both virtually and through periodic conferences and workshops.
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Learn how development agencies, nonprofit organizations, universities, practitioners, faculty members, and students can participate in the global network of MDP programs.
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Global Classroom
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We are delighted to announce that the Global Classroom: Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice will be offered again beginning in September 8, 2009. The 14-week course will include an upgraded system for on-line learning, revised curriculum and lectures, and new opportunities for global group discussions. While the new course syllabus is currently in development, basic information on the course may be found on the following link: Global Classroom
Interested institutions should be able to support the following:
1) Students- a group of graduate-level students to participate in a blended learning course (on-line lectures and readings, discussion forums, local investigations, and live discussions)
2) Faculty- a dedicated faculty member to lead the graduate level class. (facilitate local discussions, provide direction for student assignments, assess studnet work and provide feedback to the students throughout the semester course. It is recommended to have at least 1 faculty member per group of 15 students)
3) Basic Infrastructure- an ability to join course discussions and to access course materials, available through the on-line platform. (this requires a classroom computer connected to a projector, a phone line with an installed speakerphone, and an active connection to the internet).
Live discussions are being planned for Tuesdays at 8:00AM EST-9:00am EST/12GMT-13GMT, although additional times will be scheduled for small group discussions on Thursdays. (The schedule for small group discussions will be designed once we have committed groups of universities).
For more information, please contact:
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Global Network of MDP Programs Meets in Ethiopia
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At the
end of July 2009 eight of the ten members of the global network of MDP
programs met in Koraro, Ethiopia to learn about the Millennium Villages Project.
Although Koraro is an area that is extremely isolated, with very low
agricultural productivity, lack of water for drinking and irrigation,
and limited infrastructure, the visitors were able to see the positive
impact that the national government and local leadership working in
partnership with the people of Koraro and international donors can
accomplish. The trip participants saw that school lunch feeding
programs had been introduced, micro dams and bore holes for water
storage and improving local water sources were built and local health
staff and community members were trained in disease prevention and
treatment. It was an excellent way for the participants to gain a
broad understanding of the multidisciplinary and multisectoral
approach to poverty alleviation, disease control, and the issues of
climate change adopted by the Earth Institute at Columbia University in addressing the complex challenges of sustainable development.
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| Current MDP Articles |
On August 4, 2009, the Huffington Post published, A New Generation of Problem-Solvers, by John W. MacArthur, CEO and Executive Director of Millennium Promise.
Other available articles include:
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The First MDP Program
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Nine universities will launch their Master's in Development
Practice programs in 2011, but Columbia University will receive its first
cohort of students this September 2009. Twenty eight students
representing nine countries are scheduled to begin the program on
August 17, 2009. With impressive backgrounds in the practice of
sustainable development, 43% of the graduate students are international
and 57% are from North America. Dr. Glenn Denning, with more than 30
years of experience in international agricultural research and
development and the former director of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDG) Center in Nairobi, will be the first director of Columbia
University's Master of Public Administration in Development Practice.
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MDP Secretariat
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The Global Master's in Development Practice Secretariat is one of the core recommendations of a report from the International Commission on Education for Sustainable Development Practice
supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation . The
2007-2008 Commission was co-chaired by John W. McArthur, CEO &
Executive Director of Millennium Promise and Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director
of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and comprised 20 eminent
sustainable development experts and practitioners. Based at the Earth
Institute at Columbia University, the Secretariat serves as the
umbrella organization overseeing all Master's in Development Practice
(MDP) programs and activities worldwide. To provide guidance to the
Secretariat, an International Advisory Board
was established. Comprised of practitioners, academics and MDP program
directors, the International Advisory Board works closely with the
Global MDP Secretariat to build and expand the network of institutions
involved in sustainable development practice and to establish standards
for MDP programs and curricula.
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Sincerely,
The Global Master's in Development Practice Secretariat
The Earth Institute
Columbia University
B-Level, Hogan Hall
2910 Broadway
New York, New York 10025
Email: mdp-info@ei.columbia.edu
Website: www.mdp.ei.columbia.edu
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