The Master in Population and Development Studies programme is designed around the amalgamation of two disciplinary fields, demographics and development, which translate into a participatory teaching approach. In addition, the strong methodological component of the programme includes intensive technical training.

Methods promoting interdisciplinarity

The classes in the common core curriculum are taken by teachers from both disciplines, enabling a fresh perspective on the theoretical and practical frameworks of both. Furthermore, borrowing some classes from other Master’s programmes and the fact that the students are from different disciplinary backgrounds and different parts of the world strengthens this interdisciplinarity.

Teaching strategy

The choice between the different options, the Erasmus and Mercator foreign exchanges offered to students in the second year of the Master’s (1st semester) and the possibility of work placements all enable the students to tailor their academic path to suit their interests and career objectives and to increase their independence within the framework of their training.
A case study seminar, based on a role-play approach and led by demographics and development teachers, emphasises the interactions between population and development and enables students to develop their skills in researching and summarising information, making an argument, negotiation and teamwork.

Learning situations

There is a variety of learning situations, enabling students to learn about the fundamental theoretical concepts and frameworks of these disciplines (traditional lectures) and to analyse them in seminars and workshops. Students learn about quantitative and qualitative IT analytical tools and software through practical work.