Teaching and Learning

MTech: Comparative Local Development

The MTech: Comparative Local Development is an interdisciplinary programme comprising the application of economics, law, sociology and politics to the analysis of local development. The programme seeks a holistic approach to local development and provides an integrated framework for analysis and intervention. It approaches and addresses development primarily at the local level, thereby promoting the ongoing localisation of economic growth and productivity as well as the democratisation of local government and decentralisation of governance in countries in Africa. The programme is directed primarily towards existing and future practitioners (from the public, private and civil society sectors), and is thus oriented towards direct application and real world impact.

The MTech seeks to develop competencies for the achievement of higher levels of efficiency and efficacy in local administration and development, thereby enhancing the role of local governmental bodies in local development. It optimises synergies between major role players and stakeholders in local development through strategic partnerships and seeks to promote social cohesion and stability in local constituencies within the context of uneven and under-development. It seeks to increase intra-regional co-operation for the purposes of promoting economic potentialities and attempts to promote cultural diversity and tolerance, and the management thereof, as a basis for developmental cooperation. One of the main outcomes of the programme will be to accelerate regional integration as a medium to long-term goal in order to enhance the co-ordination of local and international efforts.

The MTech: Comparative Local Development seeks to develop competencies for the achievement of:

• Higher levels of efficiency and efficacy in public administration, thereby promoting and increasing the role of local governmental bodies in local development; 
• Optimising synergies between major role players and stakeholders in local development through strategic partnerships; 
• Promotion of social cohesion and stability in local constituencies within the contexts of uneven and under-development; 
• Increasing intra-regional co-operation for the purposes of promoting economic potentialities; 
• Promoting cultural diversity and tolerance, and the management thereof, as a basis for developmental cooperation and cohesion; 
• Accelerating regional integration as a medium-long-term goal to enhance the coordination of local and international efforts. The programme which is offered by the Institute for Economic Research on Innovation (IERI) runs over a minimum of two years. The maximum time allowed to students to complete the programme and graduate is 3 years.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE (2014/2015)

Lectures are structured in 9 courses (of 34 hours each) on the following subjects:

Academic Year 2014
First Semester
EAL501T Economic Approaches to Local Development
LAL501T Legal Approaches to Local Development
SAL501T Socio-political Approaches to Local Development

Second Semester
DEP501T Local Development and Entrepreneurship Policies
MVS501T Management of Diversities in Societies
RIG501T Regional Integration and Multilevel Governance

Academic Year 2015
First Semester
FLD501T Financial Aspects of Local Development
PJG521T Project Management
SLV501T Sustainable Local Development

Second Semester
CLD501T Research Project
IER501T Internship

Research Project: analysis, research and experience aimed at the elaboration of an original and innovative project for local development in areas in transformation. The Research Project represents 25% of the total evaluation of the qualification.
Internships in qualified organisations (institutions of local and regional government, public/private partnerships, decentralised administrations of national government, industrial districts, trans-border co-operation-projects, policies for enterprises and local development, services to enterprises, local banks, NGOs active at local level or for the promotion of local development) located domestically or in international organisations.

In order to qualify for the programme candidates have to comply with the following requirements:

• be in possession of an accredited four-year university degree (with majors in at least one of the following: economics, law, politics, sociology), or an equivalent qualification; 
• be fluent in English and computer literate; 
• present a written essay of 2500 words on the subject of comparative local development; and 
• demonstrate congruence of experience and motives with the nature of the programme. 

Selection criteria: Admission is subject to selection.

For further information, please contact:

Lucas Madia Senior Administrator (IERI)
Tel: +2712 3823073
Email: MadiaIL@tut.ac.za