Critical learning in development projects and international cooperation

Abstract

The Master’s degree in Development Cooperation of the Universitat Politècnica de València started in the year 2011–2012 with a specialization in Project Management and Development Processes which capitalized the experience gained in the four previous editions of the master in Development Policies and Processes. Since its inception, the Master has been designed and developed on the basis of principles such as critical learning, participation, and the connection between the local and global problems. These principles have been incorporated into both the contents and the learning process leading to several teaching–learning practices that transcend the classroom space and help to define a very specific profile of specialist in project management and development processes. This article presents and discusses the main methodological innovations developed at an educational level in the master, as well as the monitoring and evaluation spaces that have been established to incorporate the active participation of students and other stakeholders from outside university. The analysis explores the major difficulties and the main supporting factors for a critical learning practice in the field of development projects and international cooperation.