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MA in Children, Youth And internAtionAl developMent

School of health ScienceS and Social care

Fact File

Mode oF Study

Full-time, one year (two terms plus a dissertation period), or part-time, two and a half years (four terms plus a dissertation period).

entry requireMentS

A good honours degree in an appropriate social science subject, or in another subject but with appropriate professional experience. Candidates without a degree but with relevant scholarship, research or professional experience may also be admitted. Contact the Course Director for further details.

FeeS

For information on the tuition fees for this course, please visit www.brunel.ac.uk/courses/pg/pgfees/

enquirieS

course director: dr nicola ansell centre for Human Geography School of Health Sciences and Social care, Brunel university, uxbridge Middlesex, uB8 3PH

tel: +44 (0)1895 266085 Fax: +44 (0)1895 269805 email: nicola.ansell@brunel.ac.uk

this innovative interdisciplinary programme is the first in the uK to cater specifically for those working, or interested in working, in the field of children, youth and international development.

Half the world’s population is under the age of 25 and almost 90 per cent of these young people live in poor countries. they experience diverse geographical and social contexts, but also engage with global processes, such as ‘development’ and globalisation. over the past two decades, awareness has grown of the changing conditions of young people’s lives. High level responses, such as the un convention on the rights of the child (1989), have encouraged nGos and governments working at a more local level to take on board the needs, experiences and views of children and young people. academic research concerning children, youth and international development has also advanced considerably in the disciplines of geography, anthropology, sociology, psychology and development studies. this research has not, until now, been widely disseminated through postgraduate taught courses in the uK.

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MA in Children, Youth and international development

programme structureThe full-time Master’s course lasts for one academic year and students are typically required to attend for two days a week for two terms and to complete their dissertations over the summer. Part-time students are usually required to attend for one day a week across four terms, followed by up to two terms’ work on their dissertations.

The course consists of a number of modules which fall into three categories: core taught modules (accounting for 90 credits), option modules (30 credits) and the dissertation (60 credits). Most modules last for one term and are assessed during the term in which they are taught.

Core modules

international development, children and youth

Taught in the first term, this module introduces students to theories and practices of international development, and their impacts on young people. Themes include the ethical basis for intervening on behalf of impoverished young people, the roles of international institutions and NGOs and the impacts of globalisation and international development aid. Students develop a critical awareness of current research and scholarship on international development, children and youth and reflect on the institutional and policy frameworks appropriate to addressing children’s needs at multiple scales.

young lives in the Global South

This module introduces students to key concepts and theories underpinning social studies of childhood and youth, and the issues confronting young people living in poor countries, including themes such as intergenerational relations, transitions to adulthood and debates concerning the provision of education

and healthcare. Students develop a critical awareness of current research and scholarship in these fields. Students are also introduced to the concept of interdisciplinarity, and will briefly examine the contrasts and synergies between different disciplinary approaches to childhood and youth.

Global agendas on young People, rights and Participation

Many initiatives intended to improve the lives of young people, such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are inspired by a notion of children’s rights. However, there are conflicting perspectives on children’s and young people’s rights. One area of rights enshrined in the Convention, and in UN declarations on youth, is participation. The idea that young people should participate in decisions about their lives has been widely embraced by NGOs working in poor countries. This module encourages students to engage with the debates on rights and participation, and to develop a critical understanding of the implementation and impacts of rights-based practices.

researching children, childhood and youth

This module develops students’ knowledge of research design and practice, in preparation for the dissertation. Students examine the philosophical underpinnings of research work. A range of methodological approaches for researching children and youth are critically appraised, and students explore both conventional and innovative children-centred techniques. Students are acquainted with practical, legal and ethical issues involved in research with young people. Considerable emphasis is placed upon the logistics of setting-up, doing and disseminating research. The module also acts as a critical and practical research forum for discussion and preparation for the dissertation.

option modulesThe option modules available offer students a unique opportunity to appreciate in depth how children and youth-related issues are addressed from alternative disciplinary perspectives. (Check website for updates.)

• AnthropologicalandPsychologicalPerspectives on Learning

• SociologyofYouthandYouthWork

• ContemporaryIssuesinYouthandCommunityWork

• SocialPolicy

• AppliedLearning(placementmodule)

The programme is intended to relate to the needs of organisations working in the field of children, youth and international development. Students will therefore have the opportunity, should they wish, to undertake a sustained project with an external organisation as part of a placement module. This may be with an organisation with which they already have links, such as a current of former employer. They may also choose to apply their dissertation to the needs of an identified community or organisation.

dissertationThe MA programme culminates in the preparation of a dissertation. This requires an extended, in-depth, independent piece of research relating to children, youth and international development. Students identify an area of interest in the Researching Children, ChildhoodandYouthmoduleandareallocated an appropriate academic supervisor. Over the course of the research, they are expected to engage critically with research and scholarship at the forefront of their chosen field, and extend their understanding through primary data collection and analysis. Tutorial support is arranged individually between the student and supervisor. The final dissertation

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should be between 15,000 and 18,000 words in length. Previous dissertations have include studies of how Ugandan street children would like to be represented; Zimbabwean school children’s use of books; child sponsorship as a means of fundraising; Kenyan careleavers’ transitions to adulthood; participatory filmmaking as a way for children to represent their lives to others; the challenges faced in importing an American model for assisting childrenwithAIDSinVietnam.

teaching and learningA range of teaching and learning techniques are employed on the programme, most of which stress the active involvement of students in discussion and debate. The programme also emphasises reflective, independent learning, both by individuals and groups, and students are well supported to achieve this through, for instance, tutorials, workshops and seminar discussions.

AssessmentThe form of assessment used depends upon the aims of particular modules, but includes essays, exams, oral presentations, debates, student-led seminars and reports. Care has been taken to balance the variety of assessment strategies across the degree and to employ methods that will enable students to develop and practise a range of transferable skills.

erasmus linkThe University has a link with the Norwegian Centre for Child Research in Trondheim, funded through the Erasmus scheme. This offers eligible full time students the opportunity to undertake the second term of their study in Trondheim, where equivalent modules are available.

CareersEmployment in international development is highly competitive and a Masters degree offers a considerable advantage in career terms. This course prepares graduates for children and youth-related work in national and international non-governmental organisations based in the UK and overseas, as well as posts in government ministries, institutions and agencies in the global South. The course is also highly relevant to those who wish to undertake further research, including at doctoral level, or consultancy.

the teamUnlike other childhood studies programmes, which are almost exclusively located in a single department and taught from a single disciplinary perspective, the proposed programme draws upon expertise and modules from a range of disciplinary traditions.

The programme is based in the School of Health Sciences and Social Care, with the core modules delivered primarily by members of the Centre for Human Geography within that School. This Research Centre specialises in geographies of children and young people. However, the MA programme is also a core activity of Brunel’s Centre forChildandYouthResearch,which represents a concentration of over 30 academic staff from across the University whose research interests lie in the broad field of children and youth. Many of the Centre’s members conduct research with young people in the global South, from a range of disciplinary perspectives including geography, sociology, anthropology (based in the Centre for Anthropological ResearchonChildhood,YouthandEducation), youth work, psychology, health sciences, social work and sportsciences.Inbothcoreandspecialist option modules, therefore, students will be directly exposed to innovative high profile research that relates to the fields of children, youth and international development.

dr nicola Ansell – Course director

Nicola is a geographer whose research interests relate to the ways in which young people experience social and cultural change in different contexts. She has undertaken research projects with children and youth in southern Africa on themes including gender, education,AIDSandmigration.Her current research aims to improve understanding of howAIDS,ininteractionwithother factors, is impacting on the livelihood activities, opportunities and choices of young people in rural Lesotho and Malawi. This is intended to support the development of policies and interventions thatenhanceAIDS-affectedyoung people’s prospects of achieving sustainable, food-secure livelihoods throughout the region. Nicola has published many journal articles on her research, and is also the author of a key text: Children, Youth and Development (Routledge, 2005).

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this brochure and the University will take all reasonable action to deliver these services in accordance with the descriptions set out in it. However, the University reserves the right to vary these services, using all reasonable efforts to offer a suitable alternative. All costs, rates and prices stated in this brochure are subject to amendment and should be taken as a guide only.

how to find us...

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tuyet ngo (MA 2012)“IwasluckytobeawardedtheAlumniScholarshiptostudytheMAcourse.The opportunity to meet people from different countries and backgrounds bothinthescholarshipprogrammeandinmycourseiswhatIappreciatedmostcomingtoBrunelfromVietnam.TheCYIDcoursehasstimulatedmycritical thinking about international development in working with children and young people. My own perception has been deconstructed then re-constructed in a journey of self-reflection on my experiences with the projects IhavebeenworkingonbothinSoutheastAsiaandtheUK.TheconversationsIhadwithpeersandlecturersinthiscourseweremybestinspiration.”

Jarret Guzman (MA 2012)“AttendingBrunelUniversityandbeingpartoftheMaster’sinChildren,YouthandInternationalDevelopmentprogrammehasbeenanexperienceofalifetime.The delivery of the course content by the lecturers has been informative and enjoyable. The skills and information taught to me have helped to shape my professionallife,andhaveprovedtobeinvaluableasIamnowamemberoftwo committees appointed by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to work withchildrenandyoungpeople.ItakegreatpleasureinrecommendingBrunelUniversitytoanyonewhowantstodevelopbothacademicallyandsocially.”

Caroline Day (MA 2010)“HavingspenttimevolunteeringinAfrica,IhadbeenworkingintheUKchildren’s charity sector but was looking for a route back into international work. The course covered a wide range of key theories, practical concepts and researchskills,whichIwasabletoputintopracticethroughacourseplacementvolunteering with a local NGO supporting street children in Kenya, and in visiting KenyadirectlywhereIresearchedtherepresentationofstreetchildrenformyMAdissertation.Itfeltgreattobelearningagain,andinsuchasupportiveandknowledgeableenvironment.WhileundertakingthecourseIsawaPhDstudentship advertised at the University of Reading focusing on Care, Disability andFamilyRelationshipsinsub-SaharanAfrica.IamnowinmysecondyearofthiscourseandlivinginZambiawhereIamresearchingtheimpactofcaringforsickordisabledparentsorrelativesonthelife-transitionsofZambianyouth.”