Turin School of Development (International Training Centre of the ILO)
Master in Management of Development
- Turin, Italy
- Online Italy
Master degree
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
06 Sep 2026*
EARLIEST START DATE
05 Apr 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,900 **
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* first round: mar 31 | second round: june 23 | third round: sept 7
** subsistence (optional) €5,845
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The Master in Management of Development is offered by the International Training Centre of the ILO under the auspices of the Turin School of Development, in partnership with the University of Turin and with the technical contribution of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The Master is a 1-year intensive blended learning programme with a succession of three phases: internet-based distance learning, interactive classroom attendance, and applied project preparation work. This master's programme, conducted in English, is in its 23rd edition, and more than 600 participants from more than 80 countries worldwide have completed it.
Degree
The Master in Management of Development is delivered as a First Level Master by the University of Turin, according to the so-called Bologna Process, which created the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. Therefore, the Master's programme carries 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits, equivalent to the workload of a full-time student during one academic year.
The Master’s degree is awarded upon successful passing of all the exams, thesis submission and after having fulfilled all the conditions required.
Important: A First Level Master's does not give access to PhD programmes in Italy. Admission requirements to PhD programmes vary from country to country, as these depend on the university system of the country where the PhD programme is held. For more information on the minimum requirements, please directly contact the university offering the PhD programme you are interested in.
Participant's Profile
The programme is intended for professionals from public and private institutions and NGOs working in the area of development or graduates aspiring to work in this area. The majority of participants are formed by practitioners who already have years of experience in the development sector.
Part I
Distance learning
The first phase of the programme consists of 22 weeks of distance learning, principally aimed at providing broad knowledge on development as an issue, using as a structuring element the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the foundations are laid on Project Cycle Management and other selected tools for development work. Learning is supported by a dedicated distance learning platform on the Centre’s e-campus, enabling several learning methodologies. Master students are assisted by a dedicated tutor during the full distance learning phase.
Part II
Face-to-face learning
The second part of the programme consists of 11 weeks of face-to-face learning principally aimed at making participants able to understand, critically question and interpret development as a process. This part also aims at making participants exercise the knowledge of development as an issue acquired in Phase I and to explore the process under question from a practical perspective. The content will be clustered around themes, including:
- Human Development, Human Rights, and Migration
- Development, Inequality and Growth
- Environment and Sustainability
- Local Development and Participation
- Governance and Democracy
- Actors, Partnerships and Financing
- Result-based Management and Project Management
- Methods and Techniques for Development
The face-to-face part also allows for in-depth preparation of the project-writing task, which will culminate in the preparation of a full-scale project document.
Part III
Final paper
This final part of the programme is dedicated to the elaboration of an academic paper on a topic with direct relevance to the project idea developed into the project document in Phase II.
Methodology
The program presents several unique features:
- Integration of theory and practice;
- In-depth coverage of the full spectrum of competencies for project cycle management as practiced in major development institutions; and
- An interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes the strong relationship between various disciplines and specific development issues, processes, and practices.
The program is composed of three parts and is designed in a way to minimize participants’ absence from work duties back home (only 11 weeks in Turin).
Online and classroom interaction and teamwork are emphasized in order to prepare the participants for effective engagement in the participatory approaches of development work.
The programme offers an applied learning opportunity to explore the theoretical, conceptual and operational frameworks for management of development. This is done from a multi-disciplinary perspective, i.e. integrating socio-economic policies with in-depth understanding of the legal, institutional, local and managerial contexts for effective planning and implementation of development programmes and projects.
The Master addresses a number of critical questions for development practitioners and planners, such as:
- What are the defining characteristics of development in the age of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals?
- Which issues and processes can be identified behind these broad concepts?
- What is the emerging landscape in international development cooperation?
- How to plan and manage project interventions to achieve development objectives?
- What is results-based management, and how is it applied in the development context?
- What other tools are applied in development practice?
- What policies and strategies may contribute to sustainable transformations in terms of cultural, political, social, economic and environmental changes
The programme’s objective is to provide personnel working in the field of sustainable development with the analytical and operational competencies that are indispensable for effective participation in the results-based framework of national development and in designing effective development projects and programmes.
At the end of the programme, the participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues, processes, and practice of development.
- Apply acquired technical and interpersonal competencies in order to enhance the economic and social benefits of development projects and programmes;
- Conceptualize and formulate a full-scale project proposal for a development initiative/project.
The contents and the learning delivery methods are designed to provide the participants with the full spectrum of competencies needed in order to effectively deal with the challenges faced by development professionals today in their pursuit of social and economic progress while preserving the living environment for future generations.
What will I be able to do?
The contents and the learning delivery methods are designed to provide the participants with the full spectrum of competencies.
- Demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues, processes, and practice of development.
- Apply acquired technical and interpersonal competencies in order to enhance the economic and social benefits of development projects and programs.
- Conceptualize and formulate a full-scale project proposal for a development initiative/project.
Why Study at the TSD?
The Turin School of Development (TSD) is a leading international institution in the field of development cooperation, it offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.
Why choose the TSD?
There are many reasons to choose the TSD for your graduate studies. Here are just a few:
- Academic excellence: The TSD is a leading international institution with a reputation for academic excellence.
- Practical experience: The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience.
- Expert faculty: Our faculty are renowned experts in their fields, with extensive experience in research, teaching, and policy-making.
- Global network: The TSD has a strong alumni network that spans the globe.
- The Campus: The TSD campus is located in a beautiful and safe area of Turin. The campus is home to a variety of amenities, including tennis courts, volleyball courts, a soccer field, and a gym. The campus is also close to a variety of restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions.
The TSD is a great place to study if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding academic experience. The TSD offers a unique learning environment that combines academic rigor with practical experience. The TSD also has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and welcomes students from all backgrounds.