Fall Course outline: International Development Issues

Course Title: Current Issues in International Development

Instructor: Sarajean Rossitto

Class schedule: Tuesday nights, 6:50 – 8:50pm

    

Overview:

An issues-based course focusing on developing a deeper, more critical understanding of current issues using the MDGs as a base. After reviewing the MDGs and some points related to international development, the class focuses on specific issues. Weekly online reading assignments introduce background information, reports and important data to help participants understand complex issues.  These assignments form a base for class activities and discussion. Class participants are expected to take part in discussion, class work, and a group project.

Participants come out of the course with a more critical understanding of the causes and impacts of current issues as well as ideas for hope they are being dealt.

Target Audience:

This class is for anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of issues and lacking depth of knowledge or professional experience in international development or nonprofit NGOs.

Course Format:

This course will be run in workshop format - including presentation, group discussion, pairwork and simulation activities.

Language:

All course materials are in English and classes will be conducted in English. Most class presentation and discussion will take place in English but some may take place in Japanese.  All evaluated materials should be submitted and presented in English.

Language Requirement:

High intermediate and above (spoken and written English).

Evaluation:

Participants will receive a pass if they fulfill the criteria for passing: 70% in attendance, class preparation, active class participation, class projects, and a final paper. Class participants are expected to complete readings and/or other course work even if absent.

Assignments and course materials:

We will use a wide array of online readings in this course. Links are on the class blogspot: http://idskills.blogspot.com/  

This is be open to class participants only.

Class project:

Each student is expected to take part and prepare a collaborative presentation or final paper, related to the class theme. Each presentation will focus on one problem in one particular place, review the causes and effects as well as 3-5 approaches to the problem. 

Presentations will be done in the last class.

Independent study task:

Participants will be asked to attend a workshop, event, symposium or seminar of their choice and submit a) a short report and b) event documentation (such as a flyer). These are due in Class 8.
Course outline

	General Contents	Concept focus
Class 1 Sept 27	Introductions, Overview of the course  Intro to some current issues, discussion on issues that matter to us.	Connecting issues, assessing interests and goals
Class 2 October	Hunger food and  (MDG #1)	Hunger, food security, solutions to food access
Class 3	Access to education (MDG #2 & 3) * Setting groups	Literacy, inclusion and conflict and education
Class 4	Women’s rights and gender based violence (MDG #3)	Understanding the politics of gender issues.
Class 5	Reproductive & sexual health (MDG #4, 5 & 6)	Child and maternal health care, the politics of women’s health AIDS
Class 6	Water and sanitation  (MDG #7) * Project status report	Understanding the connection between issues
Class 7	Disasters and emergencies	Disaster mgt, the difference between relief and recovery
Class 8	Emergencies: conflict and disaster * Independent study reports due	The connection between human made and natural disasters and development issues
Class 9	AID effectiveness (MDG #8) * Final project papers due	Understanding the role of donors and effectiveness of Aid
Class 10	Class presentations and final discussion	Synthesis of skills and issues