MSc Managing Sustainable Rural Development

This course has professional accreditation from the Institute of Economic Development.

Level

Postgraduate

Entry Requirements

Normally an honours degree is expected. However, where applicants do not hold this qualification you can apply for access on the basis of a) your previous qualifications (which might include a relevant Ordinary degree, HND or other academic qualifications); b) your professional experience in the subject area. Applicants with academic awards from outwith the UK should list their awards and be able to demonstrate approximate equivalence with a good undergraduate UK degree. Students whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Duration and Mode

3 Years Full-Time / Part-Time - Online

Description

From September 2007 this course will be offered wholly online with Tutor support to students resident anywhere in Europe. When starting this course, attendance at an initial 2-day induction meeting in a UHI institution in Scotland is mandatory. In subsequent years attendance at the start of year induction event is optional.

The course is available for full-time study, part-time study, or individual modules for Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

This course has professional accreditation from the Institute of Economic Development. Students who complete the MSc degree will be eligible for full membership of the IED www.ied.co.uk As a Full Member, you may use the designation MIED after your name. Students who exit with a PGCert, or a PGDip may also be eligible for full membership.
The course consists of three progressive awards,

Level 1 - Postgraduate Certificate in Managing Sustainable Rural Development
Level 2 - Postgraduate Diploma in Managing Sustainable Rural Development
Level 3 - MSc Managing Sustainable Rural Development

The course is delivered in tandem with a degree in Managing Sustainable Mountain Development so students may share modules. Students will be required to state at the beginning of their studies whether they wish to focus on rural or mountain issues. All assessed work would be directed to the specific context of the named degree (i.e. rural or mountain). Students who successfully complete 180 credits (or SCOTCAT points) qualify for a Master of Science in Managing Sustainable Rural Development or Managing Sustainable Mountain Development. There are two intermediate exit points leading to awards of a Post Graduate Certificate in Managing Sustainable Rural/Mountain Development (60 credits) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Managing Sustainable Rural/Mountain Development (120 credits).

Individual modules of the programme may also be taken for the purposes of Continuous Professional Development, and appropriate SCOTCAT credit given.

Rationale Sustainable development in rural and mountain areas is a relatively recent concept, and is a fast-changing multi-disciplinary subject with obvious implications for policy and practice in all societies. This modular course is designed to meet the needs of practitioners working in a wide range of development contexts, not just in the UK. Participants will themselves become major providers of knowledge as they systematically and critically reflect on their own professional practice in relevant fields. As this is a vital ingredient of the course, tutors will need to be both flexible and willing to adjust their input to the particular circumstances of the individuals and groups they work with.

The MSc in Managing Sustainable Rural/Mountain Development has been designed by a UHI Course Committee to meet the needs of rural and mountain communities by bringing together economic, social, and environmental knowledge and professional skills to offer a qualification for practitioners and agency officials working in rural and mountain areas. The course is intended to offer career development opportunities for students (both recent graduates and mature students) new to rural/mountain studies, as well as to provide new skills for existing practitioners. An important aspect of the course is to encourage effective peer-to-peer learning and collaborative working, particularly through an online platform. Aspects of course work will be assessed for value of individual contributions to group working activities.

In keeping with the aims of the course, two main issues inform the rationale of the proposed structure. Firstly, this is designed as an interdisciplinary course of study that combines a wide range of inter-related subjects, reflecting the complexity of modern policies and the management of sustainable development in rural and mountain areas. Secondly, the course aims to provide a sound understanding of the underpinning theories of development processes in rural/mountain communities, and to link this with a pragmatic approach in the translation of these theories into practical applications for sustainable development.

In the context of sustainable development, the focus will be on developing the student's knowledge of contemporary development issues, theories, policies and practices from the varying sectoral perspectives related to economic, social and community and environmental development.

This philosophy is reflected in the structure of the course, which is based upon 4 core modules of study for the Post Graduate certificate award. These core modules, plus an additional 4 modules from a pool of options, are required for the award of post Graduate Diploma. The Diploma level plus the Dissertation module must be successfully completed for the award of M.Sc.

An important aspect of this course is a firm emphasis on "sustainable development in action" through the analysis of rural/mountain development methods, theories, case studies, and policy framework analysis. Case studies and other resources, including fieldwork, will be used to illustrate the concepts of development in their appropriate international contexts.

Students will normally complete either 1 or 2 modules each semester (each module a notional 150 hours of study, including ‘thinking time’). The minimum completion time allows 4 modules to completed in Level 1 (PG Certificate) a further 4 modules in Level 2 (PG Diploma) then the Dissertation in Level 3 (MSc). Students are normally allowed a maximum of six years to complete the full MSc.

What are the entrance requirements?
Normally an honours degree is expected. However, where applicants do not hold this qualification you can apply for access on the basis of a) your previous qualifications (which might include a relevant Ordinary degree, HND or other academic qualifications); b) your professional experience in the subject area. Applicants with academic awards from outwith the UK should list their awards and be able to demonstrate approximate equivalence with a good undergraduate UK degree. Students whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate proficiency in English.

What do I need to access the programme?

Computer equipment
Students must have access to the following minimum computer hardware & software to access the programme:

Dial-up internet connection (56K); but Broadband recommended
Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
Internet Explorer 7 or above
Soundcard with connected speakers and/or headphones
Ability to play DVDs
Microsoft Office 2003 (or more recent version) featuring Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Adobe Acrobat Reader - available as a free download from www.adobe.com

IT skills

Students are expected to:

Be competent users of Microsoft Office - in particular WORD, EXCEL and PowerPoint
Be able to surf the internet and download files with confidence

How much will it cost?

For EU part-time students, each module has a fee of £283 per 15 credit module and £1,135 for the 60 credit Dissertation module. The fee for full-time EU students is £3,400 (8 modules plus dissertation)

Part-time students who are citizens of non-European Union countries have a fee of £775 per 15 credit module and £3,096 for the 60 credit Dissertation module. The fee for full-time non-EU students is £9,290 (8 modules plus dissertation)

Course Structure and Content

Managing Sustainable Rural Development Managing Sustainable Mountain Development
Core modules

Human ecology in rural areas

Optional modules

Research dissertation – 60 credits

For further course details click on the Student Handbook

For further details contact the Course Leader, Professor Frank Rennie, at frank.rennie@lews.uhi.ac.uk or 01851-770451

Progression

The PG Certificate allows entrance to the PG Diploma, which allows entrance to the MSc. The taught Masters award may allow progression to doctoral study (PhD)

Campus / Access

All UHI Campus locations (online study)
Online home-based or learning centre-based study across the UK

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