A postgraduate course in Environment, Development and International Studies.

This online course focuses on institutions, which are critical for the success of development processes and social change. Development managers, in the public and private sectors and in non-government organisations (NGOs), need the capacity to analyse the institutional landscape, and to use and adapt existing institutions – or create new ones – to promote development. They also need the capacity to build good relationships between the many organisations working for change. The course explores theories and concepts, policy and practice, in a variety of fields. It examines the strategic importance of inter-organisational relationships and provides tools for promoting institutional development.

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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.

What you will study

The course is in three parts, which establish the crucial role played by institutions in any development process and shows you how to make institutional development happen. It does this by:

Exploring theory

TU872 views institutions as:

• rules and norms that govern society
• values that shape action and meanings through which individuals and organisations make sense of the world
• ‘big players’ that are able to set or influence rules and norms, values and meanings, whether international or national bodies, or influential players at local levels.

You will explore how institutions present opportunities for change and may also hinder or resist it. The course recognises that, in any field of policy and practice, individuals and organisations work to different rules and norms, values and meanings, and that consequently institutional development is always a contested process. Power relations and political processes therefore play a crucial role.

Examining policy and practice

The course applies these ideas to three fields of policy and practice that are of contemporary significance: poverty reduction, humanitarian interventions (in complex emergencies) and governance. In each case there are some sub-themes, for example: micro-finance (poverty reduction), forced migration (humanitarian intervention) and innovation in healthcare (governance). In examining these fields of policy and practice, you will critically evaluate current thinking, particularly about ‘partnership’ and ‘participation’.

Analysing inter-organisational relationships

Recognising that inter-organisational relationships are at the heart of institutional development, the course presents a conceptual framework for analysing these relationships, built around the ‘3Cs’ of competition, coordination and cooperation. This framework is used to consider the relationships between organisations in the public and private sectors, and in civil society, to see how they can contribute to or hinder institutional development. Whilst not the only way of looking at relationships, the 3Cs has proved a powerful tool for thinking strategically about the relationships necessary for bringing about institutional development.

Demonstrating the use and usefulness of key skills

TU872 recognises that conceptual skills need to be complemented by other key skills. Particular attention is paid to the development of:

• mapping skills, as a way of organising thoughts and presenting views of a problem or process
• modelling skills, as a way of showing how institutions might or ought to be developed, either with a view to direct implementation/replication or as a basis for negotiating between different approaches
• negotiation and brokering skills, which enable individuals and organisations to establish terms on which they can work together to make institutional development happen.

The course is thus valuable for managers and other professionals in public sector, private sector and civil society agencies, particularly but by no means exclusively those with an interest in local, national and international development.

Entry

This course can be taken on its own or as a module of a qualification. If you are taking it as part of a postgraduate qualification, you must have adequate preparation for study at this level, usually demonstrated by a bachelors degree (or the equivalent) from a UK university. If you have no background in development or development management, you are advised to take Development: context and practice (TU871) and Capacities for managing development (TU870) before TU872.

You need to have a good standard of spoken and written English to study successfully with us. Poor language skills will make study more difficult, and it will take longer. The normal requirements for English language skills are explained on our website.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

Qualifications

TU872 is a compulsory module in our:

• Postgraduate Diploma in Development Management (D37)
• MSc in Development Management (F11)

TU872 is an optional module in our:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Systems Thinking in Practice (C72)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Systems Thinking in Practice (E28)
• MA in Social Sciences (F09)
• Master of Laws (F64)
• MSc in Systems Thinking in Practice (F47)

Some postgraduate qualifications allow study to be chosen from other subject areas. These qualifications allow most postgraduate modules to count towards them. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this module can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.

Excluded combinations

Sometimes you will not be able to count a module towards a qualification if you have already taken another module with similar content.  To check any excluded combinations relating to this module, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.

If you have a disability

You will need to make extensive use of a personal computer and the internet. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about accessibility.

Study materials

What's included

This course is entirely online. The materials will include, week by week study guide with activities, readings, podcasts and other audio-visual material, and an online negotiation and brokering activity may be included.

Computing requirements

You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.

• If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
• If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
• If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.

You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will be responsible for monitoring your progress, marking and commenting on your written work and whom you can contact for advice and guidance. Your tutor will mediate an online forum for your tutor group. Face-to-face tutorials will be arranged at one or two UK locations and students will also have the opportunity to engage in real time online tutorials. There is also a separate online forum for all students on TU872. 

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in November 2013 and May 2014. We expect it to be available twice a year.

How to register

To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.

Student Reviews

Distance learning

The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.

For more information about distance learning at the OU read Study explained.

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