ABSTRACT
The Master of Development Practice (MDP) program is a global graduate program focused on preparing professionals to work in sustainable development. Established in 2009, there are currently 35 MDP programs in 22 different countries, and the number of alumni has reached over 8,000 globally. This chapter examines the career trajectories of MDP alumni and how they used knowledge and skills obtained in the program to start and advance their careers. Using the University of Florida MDP student learning outcome framework, this chapter analyzes the results of 189 international alumni from 20 programs who completed an online survey about their programmatic and career experiences. Findings indicate that while MDP programs provide students with rich opportunities to gain a comprehensive understanding of development challenges, most alumni would welcome more training opportunities to expand their skill sets. Overall, most alumni are employed in the sustainable development sector and have been able to rise professionally over time. Recommendations for MDP programs are discussed.
