Development and International Cooperation Studies

The course is structured into two distinct modules. The first module (6 ETSC) explores the theory and practice of international development policies. It covers key topics such as development, poverty and vulnerability measurement, international trade and industrialization strategies, economic growth, rural development, labor and migration, social programs and targeting, sustainable development and the environment, the political economy and the role of the state, as well as common pool resources and the determinants of cooperation. The second module (3 ETSC) is dedicated to examining contemporary debates and conducting an in-depth, critical analysis of selected topics in food security, sustainable development, and international economic cooperation.

Basic knowledge of Economic policy for undergrads.

De Janvry A. & Sadoulet E. (2021), Development Economics: Theory and Practice. Second Edition. Routledge. Feenstra & Taylor (2021). International Trade. Fifth Ed. MacMillan Learning Readings, scientific articles, and other instructional materials distributed throughout the course.

The course is organized by mixing frontal lectures and open debates on specific issues.

To pass the exam, students should pass a written test and, possibly, an oral interview. The written exam is a multiple choices test of 30 questions and will last 1h. This could be complemented by an oral interview on one of the topics included in the course program. To pass the exam, students should get a minimum grade of 18/30. This shows sufficient knowledge and understanding of the key topics of the course. To get first-class honour, students should demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of all the topics of the course. Summa cum laude can be awarded for distinguished students that show qualified achievements during the course as well as the ability to link the various topics of the course in a logical framework. Attending students can do a written test or make in-class presentations to be separately evaluated. They can decide whether this mid-term evaluation should be included in the overall evaluation.

The course is organized by mixing frontal lectures, readings of original seminal papers; oral presentations and open debates. Frontal lectures are the key to fixing students' background knowledge and understanding of the key topics in the field (i.e., the hard skills). Readings of the original seminal papers contribute in fostering both students' critical and learning skills by becoming familiar with the most relevant scientific articles and journals in the field as well as to develop a critical view in interpreting data, theoretical models and methods and make judgments about how secure are the different outcomes. Presentations and open debates are specifically meant to foster students' communication (soft) skills.