Bachelor of International Development Management (BSc) Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences

Will you work towards a fair world?

Is it really possible for everyone to profit equally from development while still respecting the environment? In our view it is. Through sustainable trade, equal rights, and equal opportunities we believe that a healthy balance between people, earth, and prosperity can be achieved. The Bachelor of International Development Management gives you the knowledge and motivation to take steps towards promoting this balance.

You will learn to bring people together, defend the interests of different stakeholders, and facilitate and support developments and innovation. You will also learn more about geography, biology, and economics. You will deal with intercultural communication, the green economy, reconstruction after disasters, strengthening the position of farmers, fair trade, business administration, and project management. This study program is an exciting breeding ground in which students with countless ideas and backgrounds work together towards one common goal: a fair society and a healthy earth.

You can specialize in:

Disaster Risk Management

Droughts, heatwaves, floods, and other disasters are happening more frequently and are increasing in severity. When they happen, they disrupt entire societies. Will you help these societies get back on their feet quickly after a disaster, and in such a way that they are more resilient when the next disaster occurs? You will become an expert in assisting communities and work on both the technical and the social aspects of reconstruction.

Sustainable Value Chains

Opportunities are unequally distributed and the dominant economic interests damage our natural living conditions and harm our natural resources. Fortunately, people, organizations, and companies increasingly see the necessity of change and are acting accordingly. Fair Trade is one of the ways of doing that: chains that truly ensure a better life for the people involved. As a chain expert, you will create a better existence for the producers and their organizations, working together with businesses, NGOs, and governments. In order to achieve this responsible trade, you will use your knowledge of sustainable food production as well as your people skills and, not least, your economic drive.

Rural Development and Innovation

Despite impressive reductions in poverty globally, progress has been uneven. Inequality is increasing between urban and rural areas. In some countries, people are moving to the cities, causing depopulation of the countryside. What will be the effect on the liveability in villages, the effect for the rural youth? For an Eastern European family, farm globalization may force them to stop farming or diversify their income. Or can an African farming family survive when members are becoming a victim of HIV/AIDS? Students learn to analyze the reasons why inequality is so persistent and learn how to facilitate development that is pro-poor, which may lead to the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized rural communities.

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More information?

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Content program

You will be following objective-specific courses, doing practical periods, and preparing an exciting graduation assignment. The program is competency-based: each theoretical subject supports workgroup situations in which students tackle practical problems and explore workable solutions. This means that you will be active from day one, learning to work independently as you collaborate with others.

Two international internships are incorporated into each of our programs to obtain well-valued international work experience even before you graduate. You will also have the opportunity to study a semester abroad as we are part of the Erasmus exchange program.

After graduating, you can find work in the (international) development sector close to your home or anywhere else in the world. Places range from nature reserves in Uganda, coffee plantations in Peru, refugee camps in Greece to the climate lobby in Brussels. You will probably be traveling a lot and be working with people from many different cultural backgrounds.

Many of our students find their first jobs through their internship organizations or with other organizations they meet while studying. We support you in building your own network of organizations that can get you a job in the future.

Perhaps you will become a bridge-builder between farmers and the government, a food safety project manager, or an advisor on reconstruction after a natural disaster. This can be for a governmental, non-governmental organization, a company or you can set up your own organization. You can find work as a consultant, policy advisor, trainer, or program manager. All jobs that make a real impact.

Potential professions

• Rural development specialist
• Responsible sourcing manager tropical food crops
• Project leader in food security
• Policy advisor on food and climate change
• Initiator in Fair Trade market development
• Advisor on reconstruction following disasters
• Building bridges between farmers and the Government