Master's in Stategic Development Studies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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