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Learning Outcomes
To guide the development of the MDP curriculum, we have defined learning competencies in the four major pillars (social, natural and health sciences, and, integrated skills for sustainable development practice). Competencies in each of the pillars are designed to make complementary linkages to the other areas.
Social science courses provide students with an understanding of the interaction between social, economic and political processes in shaping development outcomes. In the first semester, students focus on a practical multidisciplinary approach analyzing the inter-relationships between the development context, health, natural, social sciences, and governance and management. In the second semester, students apply the principles of economics to understand how institutional and political structures influence policies at various levels and ultimately development outcomes.
Natural and biological sciences courses provide an understanding of ecosystem processes and of the drivers of resource utilization, land use change and management, as well as, a perspective on the future contents of economic development. The aim is to impart and practice the skills required for the analysis of the sustainability of complex social-ecological systems.
Health science competencies relate to the underlying scientific and cultural understanding necessary for the management of health resources, with particular focus on the complex interactions between individual, community and global health, the role that these interactions have on effective assessment and implementation of health services, and the formulation of health policy.
The integrated skills for sustainable development core area will provide students with the approaches, tools, techniques and attitudes necessary for collecting, organizing, analyzing data and solving practical development problems at local and national levels. These integrative skills include an understanding of organizations and performance planning, facilitating collaborative processes, social learning and adaptive management, and personal communication and management skills.
The MDP Outcomes Tracking Tool for assessing students will be based on a double assessment. First, a self-assessment conducted by students at the end of each semester. Second, an assessment of the students’ level of proficiency by the teaching faculty or supervisor. Additionally students have an opportunity to give feedback on their progress in the program through a management meeting every Friday. The Outcomes Framework will be developed iteratively over a few years.
