07/11/2022
The Executive Master in International Development is a program designed in partnership with the United Nations System Staff College and aimed at mid-career professionals looking to take their next professional steps.
The Executive Master in International Development is adapted for professionals who want to work in international development and sustainability, with a study plan designed to equip them with the necessary skills to succeed. We had the chance to talk with key people involved in the building of this hands-on program to find out what makes the Executive Master in International Development different from anything that has come before, and what it can unlock for our students.
What does the study plan look like?
The Executive Master in International Development includes weekly real-time video conferences complemented by faculty-led asynchronous online forum discussions across the week.
Every term kicks off with an in-person period, either in Madrid or New York.
The first term focuses on laying the foundations and introducing core concepts to consolidate professionals’ knowledge around international development. In the second term, professionals progress to delving further into the dimensions of individual and systemic change with case studies. It’s also when students begin working on their group-based Capstone Project. The third and final term incorporates core curriculum sessions with further group project work, culminating in a final written report.
What makes the Executive Master in International Development unique?
This program is designed together with the UNSCC, which allows us to bring their expertise into the courses that we have designed, and also to bring the expertise of their professors and practitioners, which allows for a unique experience. – Ángel Alonso Arroba, Vice Dean for Management and Development, IE School of Global and Public Affairs
The Executive Master in International Development follows a hybrid format, with both synchronous and asynchronous sessions, allowing professionals to continue working while completing the program.
Participants will also have the opportunity to attend in-person sessions in locations such as New York, where they will visit different UN agencies and institutions.
At the core of the program is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with the UN Quintet of Change a focus for the coming years, both within the program and as a society. This unique approach positions students at the center of international development leadership with insights into data innovation, strategic foresight and behavioral science and results.
The Executive Master in International Development is unique in the sense that you can continue your career while studying. – Ángel Alonso Arroba
We deal with many problems in today’s world, whether it’s climate change, the energy transition or social justice. There are no straightforward solutions, and relations between the issues we explore are not linear. – Simona Costanzo Sow, Learning Portfolio Manager of the UNSSC
Through a combination of lectures, case studies and workshops, the Executive Master in International Development provides professionals with a unique outlook on different international organizations including the UN and the private sector.
How does the program prepare graduates to succeed in their professional journey?
Professionals will gain new mastery of the skills they have already gained as part of their professional journey, complementing these with new skill sets—both practical and theoretical. Participants will tackle international development head on; implementing solutions to new and ever-more complex challenges; becoming changemakers as they embark on this new journey.
Future professionals need to be able to address complexity, ambiguity and uncertainty, be value-driven and never lose their purpose. More importantly, we need people who can recognize that no one person or institution can solve the world’s problems alone. The UN Quintet of Change asks us to improve our ability to analyze data to strengthen capacities in terms of behavior, science and foresight, and also to communicate more strategically in a language that a variety of audiences can understand. – Simona Costanzo Sow
Students will complete practical exercises, gaining technical skills and the necessary knowledge to excel professionally with a career in multilateral government, or the private or nonprofit sectors.
Classes will be taught by IE University’s research faculty and top representatives from the United Nations as well as other international organizations.
What kind of professional opportunities could this program offer graduates?
The world of international development is changing very rapidly. With this in mind, at IE University we strive to upgrade every individual’s skill set, allowing them to adapt and respond very quickly to this changing landscape. Our Executive Master students gain knowledge and understanding of international development as it’s happening today, and is shaping tomorrow.
The Executive Master in International Development follows a very practical approach and methodology. This program will allow students to get firsthand insight, networking opportunities and projects that will expose them to UN personnel, practitioners and academics who offer real-life experience and expertise. – Jafar Javan, Director of the United Nations System Staff College
Who would be a good fit for this program?
This program is for those who want to advance their careers in international development, step up their game and work towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a position of leadership.
