<h1>Master's in Stategic Development Studies</h1>

<p><br />
Programme Description:<br />
The programme is fundamentally designed to bring awareness of and identify<br />
ways to operate in the contemporary environment, and to give effect to local,<br />
regional, and global development.<br />
The primary objectives of the programme are: 1. To produce a graduate who<br />
possesses the competencies essential to, and required for, analyzing policies<br />
and practices of the contemporary environment, and applying research skills of<br />
empiricism to generate conceptual, theoretical and practical solutions necessary<br />
for national development. 2. To produce highly skilled graduates for the various<br />
development practices who will be able to operate in the contemporary<br />
environment to give effect to local, regional, and global development. 3. To equip<br />
students with the skills for basic research, implementation, and evolution of the<br />
impact of development policies and Programmes.<br />
Email us: ihrssf@uog.edu.gy<br />
Call us: (+592) 624-1311</p>

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The programme has several secondary objectives aimed at enabling participants<br />
to understand how States influence the contemporary environment by their<br />
interests, decision making, and strategic networking.<br />
Programme Details<br />
The Master of Science Strategic Development Studies is a one academic year 2<br />
semester programme. Participants are expected to complete eight modules one<br />
of which is any elective on a master’s programme whether 3 or 4 credits or a<br />
foreign language. Students will need to satisfy a minimum of 35 or maximum of<br />
36 credits to graduate. The Courses are as follows:</p>

<p>Semester I<br />
MSD 5101: The Strategic Environment<br />
The module seeks to bring into focus the operating environment in which Guyana<br />
exists, the major players who exert influence through varying interests, and the<br />
implications resulting from threats to these interests. The objective of the course<br />
is to enable participants/students to: understand the interests of States and<br />
Institutions and appreciate how these interests determine, influence behavior and<br />
shape policies.</p>

<p>MSD 5102: State Institutions and Governance<br />
This module seeks to inform on the political framework of governance and<br />
institutional structures necessary for growth and development. It presents an<br />
understanding of how government, public sector, private sector, civil society and<br />
other key stakeholders interact to help shape good governance practices. The<br />
objectives of the course are to enable participants/students to understand the<br />
concept of governance and its relevance to the contemporary environment;<br />
appreciate the role institutions play within the governance construct.; appreciate<br />
the need for public policies to promote good governance and develop the<br />
aptitude to make convincing recommendations of the most appropriate<br />
democratic institutions and governance structures for the achievement of national<br />
policy, strategic and developmental goals.</p>

<p>MSD 5103: Policy Formulation for Strategic Development<br />
This module identifies strategic studies in areas of policy formulation at the<br />
national, regional, and international levels. It takes a theoretical and practical</p>

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approach by exposing participants to the dynamics of policies and to various<br />
frameworks for policy development.<br />
MSD 5104: Data and Information Management<br />
It is often said that “data is the new oil”. This module provides students with an<br />
introduction to the core concepts in data and information management and their<br />
application in organizational decision making. Data Management is concerned<br />
with the processes of capturing, organizing, and managing data as an<br />
organizational resource with the goal of providing maximum benefits to an<br />
organization, individual and Information Systems. Whereas Information<br />
Management is mainly concerned with the processes, technology and people<br />
that define and implement structures and controls over the processing, delivery<br />
and usage of information in organizational management, decision making and<br />
business intelligence. To this end, this course introduces students to various<br />
tools, techniques, approaches, and issues associated with these organizational<br />
resource management goals. It acknowledges that academic rigour and practical<br />
relevance are important to the pursuit of these goals. In this regard, this course<br />
tends toward practical relevance as it provides students with the opportunity to<br />
combine theory and practice. Students will collect data using different collection<br />
methods and analytical techniques in a practical decision-making context while<br />
maintaining requisite academic rigour. The preceding will serve as the basis for<br />
student’s appreciation of the nexus between evidence-based organizational<br />
decision making and policy development</p>

<p>Semester II<br />
MSD 5201: Evolving Issues in Democracy and the Contemporary<br />
Environment<br />
The module provides the historical context of political theories, their evolution,<br />
and impact. Participants will be exposed to the fundamentals of the modern state<br />
and the obligations such states have to this realm. The objectives of the course<br />
are to enable participants/students to understand and appreciate the theories<br />
and practices of democracy, and how they help shape relations with other<br />
international and regional actors. It also equips students with the critical thinking<br />
skills for participation in a democratic society.<br />
MSD 5202: Strategic Leadership<br />
This module exposes students to the challenges of strategic leadership in an<br />
increasingly complex environment. It is anchored on the foundational principle<br />
that leadership is a behaviour and not a position; therefore, the module examines<br />
strategic leadership through the framework of what behaviours are required, what</p>

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knowledge must be acquired, and what actions must be taken by a strategic<br />
leader.<br />
MSD 5203: Capstone Research<br />
This course seeks to guide students in the fundamentals of research which<br />
culminates in a capstone project/thesis on a topical issue relating to strategic<br />
development in their context. Students will also be exposed to critical thinking<br />
skills as a necessary tool for writing and producing research which is well argued.<br />
The course will also seek to provide participants with an of understanding of the<br />
research process and the basic structure of a research. Students will employ<br />
critical thinking skills while engaging with the literature and writing up research<br />
and apply the tools of research in the conduct, preparation, and finalization of a<br />
research project/thesis<br />
Semester I OR II<br />
WWW 5201: Any three/ four (3/4) credits Master level course (subject to<br />
approval) as an elective<br />
Entrance requirements:<br />
● A first degree in any discipline.<br />
OR<br />
● A Diploma or Associate Degree plus five (5) years’ experiences at a<br />
Management level.<br />
OR<br />
● Any other qualification considered acceptable by the University of Guyana<br />
● In instances where applicants do not have the requisite qualifications<br />
for entry into the programme a bridge programme could be offered for<br />
matriculation into the Masters.</p>
