Learning objectives

The Master in International Cooperation and Development trains professionals to be able to contribute to development cooperation with creativity, personality and competence by interpreting local and international events, interacting with all stakeholders, identifying and managing environmentally and local culture-friendly interventions.
For this purpose, the program provides the students with a basic multidisciplinary training and specialized technical and managerial competences to:

• Actively contribute to partnering for development, with a bottom-up approach
• Involve local civil society in identifying and managing resources 
• Manage technical, financial and administrative aspects of cooperation initiatives
• Collaborate with national and international institutions within local policy frameworks 
• Promote good governance, human rights and human dignity within state and non state actors 
• Address transnational issues such as migration, trafficking and money laundering
• Promote participatory processes, institution and democracy building.

Structure of the master

MICaD is structured in four complementary levels, fostering a a multidimensional approach. During the programme, scientific training and professional training are intertwined, so to facilitate the indispensable dialogue between theory and practice, that should never be disconnected: hands on reality fosters new waves of relevant research, and systematic reflection upon practical experience makes learning possible.

1st Level – Scientific Training and Management Skills | COURSES

• International Trade, Investments and Migrations (S. Beretta - UCSC) 
• Development Indicators (G. Prennushi -Indipendent Consultant)
• Development Economics (M. A. Maggioni - UCSC)
• Institution Building and International Security in the Post-Bipolar World (R. Redaelli - USCS) 
• Natural Resources Management and Development (S. Balestri - UCSC)
• Geopolitical Analysis: Actors, Resources, Strategies (A. Pigoli - USCS)
• Sustainable Trade and Development in the Multilateral Dimension (M. Tortora - UNCTAD)
• Money and Finance in Open Economies (E. Colombo - UCSC) 
• Global Finance and Development: Servant or Deceiver? (P. Dembinski - Observatoire de la Finance)
• International Human Rights Law (M. Ceolotto - UCSC) 
• Development Cooperation Actors (G. Prennushi - Indipendent Consultant) 
• A common good approach to development (M. Nebel - Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla)
• Project Cycle Management (J. Schunk -PCM Trainer) 
• Theory of Change (G. Agosti - CESVI) 
• Monitoring and Evaluation (G. Agosti - CESVI

2nd Level – Professional Training | COURSES

• Energy and climate change, the super-wicked problems on the global agenda (I.F. Lara - Asuntos del Sur and Universidad Nacional de Lanús)
• Impact Investing and Inclusive Business (E. Casolari - Opes Fund Impact Investment - and F. Oliva - AVSI) 
• Gender Equality and Development (S.Muzi - World Bank)
• Crisis Management and Cultural Diplomacy in Extreme Areas (M. Lombardi – UCSC and ITSTIME)
• Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) into Development Projects (M. Armellin – Save the Children)
• Building Resilience in Emergency Contexts (F. Giordano - Resilience Research Unit, UCSC)
• The Challenge of Hunger (L. Albani and G. Agosti - CESVI)
• Institutions, Democracy and Development. Facts, Theories, and Measures (D. Rossignoli- UCSC)
• Illicit Financial Flows and Developing Countries (M. Riccardi – USCS and TRANSCRIME)
• Human Rights Public Policy (A. Rossi - UNICEF)
• Partnering for Health in Development Cooperation (E. Minelli - WHO Health Emergencies Programme - and V. Candeias - Policy Cures Research)
• Profit – Non-Profit Partnerships (F. Cinque – E4Impact)
• Collecting, Managing and Representing Data (E. Uberti - UCSC)
• How to Prepare for a Career in International Organizations (S. Johaar - Career Development Specialist)
• Career Development - CV Design (Aegis Human Consulting Group)
• Soft Skills: Assessment and Development (Aegis Human Consulting Group)
• Communication for Development (N. Strazzari - Università della Valle d’Aosta)

3rd Level | Project Work

Students develop their project work, a personal research connected to their internship experience, or concerning a topic of their choice, in close contact with a Master professor and/or a professional from a partner institution.

4th Level | Internship

The program is completed with an internship, lasting minimum three months, in Italy or abroad, identified through a constant collaboration with the Master tutor. It is an invaluable opportunity to test and strenghten the competencies acquired during the Master’s program.

Assessment and Diploma

1st level Specializing Master's Degree issued by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italian Law D.M. 509/99) will be granted at the end of the Master’s course upon achievement of 60 ECTS credits, gained through the attendance to all the Master activities and the positive results in the examinations taken. All the Master’s activities (exams, internship, project work) must be performed.