Home Page > Master Programme

Master in Non Farm Activities and Rural Development in Developing Countries

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In Academic Year 2009-2010 SPES will not launch the Master in Non Farm Activities and Rural Development in Developing Countries.

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Academic Year 2007-2008

Introduction

The aim of the Master in Non-Farm Activities and Rural Development in Developing Countries is to provide a rigorous and critical introduction to rural development as a process of change in societies on the periphery of the global economy. The course deals with rural development from a multidisciplinary perspective and focuses on non-farm activities as the major key to growth and change in rural areas. A specific emphasis is given to industrial districts and clusters of small and intermediate firms that appear as the major form taken by non-farm activities in rural areas.

The course is designed for direct training in the practice of rural local development in developing countries, also in partnership with industrial districts and clusters and local administrations in industrialised countries.
The course seeks to produce students who can:

• Analyse the processes of growth and change in rural areas
• Critically appraise rural development and make suggestions for the improvement of development policies and implement control practices
• Promote initiatives for the enhancement of small and intermediate firms in rural areas
• Support the emergence and growth of industrial districts and clusters in rural areas
• Organise forms of ‘cluster to cluster’ partnership between industrialised countries and developing countries with specific reference to rural areas

• Please follow the link to donwnload the formal announcement of the enrolment for academic year 2007-2008.
• Segui il link per scaricare il bando di selezione per l'ammissione al master (in italiano).

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Course structure

The course is structured to provide a set of six core modules, which are:

• agricultural growth and rural development in rural areas;
• local development, industrial districts and clusters
• city and regional planning
• human resources for rural development
• social capital for rural development
• informal economic organisation and capital/labour relationships in rural areas

In order to get an idea of the master's contents, it is possible to check the previous edition's course structure. Please note that the new course structure will be different and improved according to our past experience and students' feedback.

The Master will begin in February 2008 and consists of 300 hours of classes and a variable number of seminars and workshops.

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Student work

At the end of the Master students will prepare a project work demonstrating an understanding of all aspects of local rural development policies and strategies. The project work should be submitted by 30 November 2008.

Study visit

A study visit to an Italian rural/industrial district will be held in the summer period and will last one week.

The Master is a one-year taught course in English language. Good command of English language is necessary.

The basic teaching staffs come from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” and from other Italian Universities. The teaching staffs also include experts from International Organisations, such as IFAD, FAO and WFP, and from the Italian Foreign Office and local administrations.

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Admission

The Master is open to 25 graduates from the European Union and from abroad.

A first university degree (Laurea) is required, or an equivalent degree according to the Italian law.
Applicants with a degree from Universities outside of Italy must provide a certificate of “value of the degree” (Certificato di valore) released by the Italian Embassy or Italian Consulate in the country where the degree certificate was issued.
Applicants who will graduate after the selection may be admitted “with reservation” but the degree certificate must be presented to SPES Research Centre by 31 January 2008.
The selection of applications will be held on 10 December 2007.
The list of the selected applicants will be published by 20 December 2007.

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Certificate of “value of the degree” (Certificato di valore)

The “Certificato di valore” is a formal recognition of the University degree together with a formal statement showing the number of years of attendance in school and University.
For more information on the “Certificato di valore”, you can read also:http://www.study-in-italy.it/studying/info-07.html

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Fees

Fees amount to euro 2000 that can be paid in two instalments:
Euro 1000 by 29 February 2008
Euro 1000 by 30 June 2008.

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Grants for students coming from China, India, and Indonesia

Thanks to the support provided by the Italian Foreign Office and by the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, special conditions apply to 12 students coming from China, India and Indonesia:
1. They do not pay any fees.
2. Grants are made available for 12 students coming from China, India and Indonesia, by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affaires through SPES Research Centre to cover, for each student, the expenses for:

• Travel from and to the country of origin
• Accommodation in Rome
• Maintenance in Rome
• Compulsory health insurance
• University fees

Applicants from China, India and Indonesia are required apply through the Italian Embassy or Italian Consulate in their countries AND to send the application and attached documents to SPES at the address presented below. The registration procedures for the selected applicants should be carried on with the support of the Italian Embassy or Italian Consulate in the applicant’s country.
Please check the useful addresses section for further details.

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How to apply

Applicants should fill the appllication form available on this website:

• Download the application form (English)
• Scarica il modulo di domanda (italiano)

Before sending their application, Italian applicants, which have not been previously enrolled to the University of Roma “La Sapienza” should register to following the procedures shown in the web-page: http://www.uniroma1.it/studenti/infostud/
The code number (matricola) that the system gives to applicants, or the previous code number (matricola) at “La Sapienza” should be written in the application form.
Applications must be signed and should specify: name, surname, date and birthplace, address, and the telephone number where the applicant would like to receive communications.
Applications should contain:

• An academic record of the previous studies of the applicant, including the degree certificate
• A CV of the applicant
• A recent passport-size photo of the applicant

• A photocopy of the passport of the applicant
• A formal declaration that states that the applicant is not enrolled at other University programmes.

Applicants may support the application with other documents (publications, professional, cultural and academic titles) and with a certificate of qualifications in English language.
According to art.1 of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 20 October 1998, No. 403, applicants are allowed, on their own penal responsibility, to present personal certifications instead of the original documents.

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Applications must arrive by 30 November 2007 to the following address:

Director of the Master in
Non-Farm Activities and Rural Development in Developing Countries
SPES Research Centre in Development Studies
Via del Castro Laurenziano 9
00161 Roma
Italy

For further information please contact us at the following e-mail address: spes@uniroma1.it

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