Bachelor of Developmental Studies | UMP

Focus Areas:

Development Studies is a broad field, offering graduates diverse paths depending on their interests. Common areas include:

• Community Development: Working directly with communities on projects related to poverty alleviation, education, health, infrastructure, and empowerment.
• Project Management: Planning, implementing, and evaluating development projects on behalf of NGOs, government agencies, or international organizations.
• Policy Analysis and Advocacy: Researching social and economic issues, analyzing development policies, and advocating for change at various levels.
• Economic Development: Focusing on local economic growth, small business development, entrepreneurship, and trade.
• Environmental Sustainability: Addressing issues like climate change, natural resource management, and sustainable development practices.
• Gender and Development: Promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through development initiatives.

South Africa Specific Considerations:

• National Development Plan (NDP): South Africa’s NDP provides a framework for addressing development challenges, creating opportunities for graduates to contribute to its implementation.
• Rural Development Focus: Many career paths involve working with rural communities to address poverty, inequality, and lack of basic services.
• Social Justice Emphasis: Development Studies aligns with South Africa’s focus on addressing historical injustices and promoting social transformation.

Potential Job Titles:

• Development Practitioner
• Program Officer/Manager
• Community Development Facilitator
• Policy Analyst
• Researcher
• Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
• Gender Specialist
• Rural Development Officer
• Project Coordinator
• Social Entrepreneur

Organizations to Target:

• Government Departments: National and provincial departments involved in social development, economic planning, and rural development.
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Large and small NGOs focusing on diverse development issues.
• International Development Agencies: Organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and international NGOs
• Consulting Firms: Companies specializing in development consulting and project management.
• Research Institutions: Think tanks and universities engaged in development-related research.

Further Development:

• Skills Development: Courses in project management, data analysis, and specific areas of development (e.g., gender, environment) can increase your competitiveness.
• Networking: Build relationships within the development sector by attending conferences, workshops, and relevant events.