This pathway draws on the OU’s research excellence in Development Policy and Practice (DPP). Many students come to this pathway with some work experience in development and related professions and use this prior knowledge to inform their doctoral research and knowledge exchange activities.
DPP at the OU challenges 'top-down' and aid-driven development policy models and promotes research into more participatory and inclusive approaches. In particular, its approach to 'inclusive innovation' focuses attention on how technological, economic and social innovations in food, health, and education systems can bring benefits to marginalised groups. Underpinning this pathway is a history of research in DPP on sustainable energy infrastructures, migration, security, heritage, sustainability, climate change, and the political dimensions of development, all with a strong orientation to policy and practice.
DPP is the OU’s main centre for international development research and teaching and is also the hub for the University’s inter-faculty Innovation, Knowledge and Development activity. Additionally, DPP is joint home to the Innogen Institute (with the University of Edinburgh), which promotes research into the social and economic impact of innovation in the life sciences. Therefore, students have access to academic researchers across the University and to a wide range of networks in policy and practice.
Students who have completed core training that meets the ESRC 2022 Training Guidelines take the +3.5 route.
The +4 route provides tailored research training for students with professional, practitioner and policy-making experience to develop a full set of academic research skills.
Depending on training needs, students can also study materials from our MSc programme which can be undertaken flexibly with the support of supervisors. The distinctiveness of this pathway is generated by the professional knowledge of its student cohort, together with its focus on international development and inclusive innovation and practitioner research.
All DTP-funded students on this pathway will be expected to undertake knowledge exchange activities, such as an internship in an organisation related to their research at an appropriate point in their doctoral study. Recent examples of internships include working with NEPAD, teaching at the Institute of Crisis Management in Nepal and working with a film-set company in Nigeria.
This pathway addresses equality, diversity and inclusion in doctoral students’ recruitment and commitment towards promoting equal opportunities and involvement of historically discriminated groups at all levels. This include promoting and implementing gender equality and social inclusion.
The employment rate of our recent graduates is 100%, and the professional roles played by our doctoral researchers on graduation include a wide range of academic posts, and major policy and management posts around the world.
For example, our students have worked with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, been a CLACC Fellow at the Institute of Environment and Development and contributed to teaching at the OU and other universities. Co-funded students have carried out work with collaborative partners, including Voluntary Services Overseas, the UK Co-operative College, the International Potato Centre and the African Centre for Technology Studies, and produced a range of different outputs for non-academic publics.
Graduates typically move into positions in academia, government ministries and agencies, policy and research institutes and consultancy work, many at senior levels of leadership in the UK, internationally, or in multilateral organisations.
