Specializing Master in International Cooperation and Development
Milan, Italy
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
29 Oct 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 9,000 / per year
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Introduction
The new Sustainable Development Goals, approved by the United Nations in September 2015, will frame policies and actions for political, economic, and social development in all countries, till 2030. The call to build strong international partnerships is urgent: poverty, inequality, conflict, instability, and deep uncertainty still affect everyday life of the majority of the world population.
The ASERI Master's Course in International Cooperation and Development offers a privileged framework for interdisciplinary analysis of the global situation, among a group of international students, scholars, and professionals.
We explore tentative solutions to world problems, through the coordinated efforts of governmental and non-governmental actors.
The partnership is indeed a keyword in pursuing development and inclusion: cooperation is about empowering the vulnerable, the poor, and the marginalized to become protagonists of their own development. Partnering for development is about local projects, but even more about appropriate national and global policies. Ultimately, it is about bridging gaps among people, groups, and institutions.
Objectives
MICaD offers robust multidisciplinary training and specialized technical and managerial competencies. Both are key in forming the ability to interpret local and international events, to interact with all stakeholders, and to identify and manage environmentally and local culture-friendly interventions.
Thus, MICaD trains young professionals to contribute to the development of cooperation with their knowledge, creativity, personality, and professional competencies to:
- Identify local needs through a bottom-up approach
- Manage technical, financial, and administrative aspects of cooperation initiatives
- Involve local civil society in identifying and managing resources
- Collaborate with national and international institutions within the local policy framework
- 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, institutions, and democracy building
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
- Number of scholarships available: 7
- Scholarship value: 25%
Curriculum
Total ECTS: 60
MICaD is structured in four complementary levels, fostering a multidimensional approach. During the program, 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
- International Trade, Investments and Migrations (S. Beretta - Università Cattolica)
- Development Indicators (G. Prennushi -Indipendent Consultant)
- Development Economics (M. A. Maggioni - Università Cattolica)
- Institution Building and International Security in the Post-Bipolar World (R. Redaelli - Università Cattolica)
- Natural Resources Management and Development (S. Balestri - Università Cattolica)
- 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 - Università Cattolica)
- Global Finance and Development: Servant or Deceiver? (P. Dembinski - Observatoire de la Finance)
- International Human Rights Law (M. Ceolotto - Università Cattolica)
- Development Cooperation Actors (G. Prennushi - Independent Consultant)
- A common good approach to development (M. Nebel - Universidad Popular Autóno ma 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
- 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 – Università Cattolica 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, Università Cattolica)
- The Challenge of Hunger (L. Albani and G. Agosti - CESVI)
- Institutions, Democracy and Development. Facts, Theories, and Measures (D. Rossignoli- Università Cattolica)
- Illicit Financial Flows and Developing Countries (M. Riccardi – USCS and TRANSCRIPT)
- 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 - Università Cattolica)
- 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, 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 a minimum of three months, in Italy or abroad, identified through constant collaboration with the Master tutor. It is an invaluable opportunity to test and strengthen the competencies acquired during the Master’s program.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Building on their previous academic studies and professional experience, students who complete the Master are well equipped to take on professional roles in international cooperation within NGOs, IOs, private or public agencies. In particular:
- Project Cycle Experts
- Project Assistant or Manager
- Analyst/Researcher/Evaluator
- Communications Officer
- Fund Raiser
- Partnership Coordinator
- Humanitarian Officer
- Administrative Officer
- Human Resources Officer
English Language Requirements
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