ABSTRACT

SUMMARY There has been a change within the management of overseas aid, moving away from free-standing training awards towards project-related training. This means that students coming to the UK have more clearly defined objectives for their training which relate to their role in projects back in their own country. Thus traditional fixed-content courses are no longer appropriate, and every student needs to be treated uniquely on a very flexible programme.

We have sought to create such a programme with our MSc in Development Training and Education by providing access to technical training at Masters level; by enabling students to develop their ability to pass their skills and knowledge on to others; by ensuring personal development through the process of learning; and by giving all aspects of the curriculum a project focus through negotiation with the student and their sponsor.

This chapter explains the nature of the provision, the salient characteristics of the students, the process that the students experience and the problems we have encountered in seeking to achieve our objectives. Our responses to these problems will also be outlined as a case study illustrating the provision of a flexible and progressive curriculum.