After more than ten editions, the official master’s degree in Development, Institutions and Economic Integration closes its doors temporarily as access will not be open to new students in the 2017-2018 academic year. We spoke with two of the students who were part of this university programme in order to keno about their own point of view about these studies.
31 may 2017
In the last century there has been a significant economic development, however, has not extended to all countries. Large areas of Latin America, Africa and Asia are still with income levels below the poverty line, and with a life expectancy which in some cases is less than forty years.
Efforts by the UN for measuring levels of development show strong disparities between countries. This problem has led to the emergence of international organizations whose priority is the promotion of economic development and international cooperation.
The range of organisms is very wide: from international (UN, OECD, FAO, ECLAC, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank or IMF) until the rise of development cooperation organizations (NGOs or cooperation agencies) in the more developed countries.
What has generated a demand for development professional experts to work in the professional field or for research in this area. Within this framework, the Official Master’s degree in Development, Institutions and Economic Integration represents a referent in this field.
After more than ten editions, the official master’s degree in Development, Institutions and Economic Integration closes its doors temporarily since access will not be open to new students in the 2017-2018 academic year. We spoke with two of the students who were part of this university programme in order to know about their own point of view about these studies.
These topics provide key conceptual knowledge and tools for understanding many of the debates on economic development and globalization
According to José Vila-Belda, student of the 2008-2009 edition of the master’s degree, this postgraduate programme stands out by its emphasis in aspects of economic history, international economy and relationship between globalisation and inequality. ‘These topics provide key conceptual knowledge and tools for understanding many of the debates on economic development and globalization’, explains Vila-Belda.
Ana Mar Bueno decided to enrol in this master’s degree for her intellectual concerns. ‘I was looking for a training that went beyond, that allowed me to know the functioning of the economy, the interaction between countries and the role of institutions in all of this. But also, I wanted to learn while stimulating my critical spirit, with a scientific vision’, explains this former student. A master’s degree that Ana Mar recommends ‘without any doubt’. From José Vila-Belda’s point of view, this master’s degree is specially recommended for ‘all those who are not economists and are interested in topics such as economic development, globalisation and inequality. I also recommended it to economists interested in development economy from a historical and global perspective’.
‘I was looking for a training that went beyond, that allowed me to know the functioning of the economy, the interaction between countries and the role of institutions.
The balance between the theoretical and practical hours is an essential point to any student of the master’s degree,that wants to practice what he learn studying. Vila-Belda is sure, the internship were an essential point during her training in this master’s degree.
‘The internship was a key opportunity for me since it allowed me to acquire experience in economic research’, explains this graduate.
But what would Ana Mar and José highlight from their experience in the Official Master's Degree in Development, Institutions and Economic Integration? ‘Its emphasis in aspects of economic history, international economy and relationship between globalisation and inequality. These topics provide key conceptual knowledge and tools for understanding many of the debates on economic development and globalization’, explains José Vila-Belda.
A university training with real job opportunities. Vila-Belda started, thanks to the internship, his trajectory in economic research in the Valencian Institute of Economical Investigations (IVIE). ‘A field in which I continue working’, explains this former student.
