Master of Leadership for Development (MC-LEADDEV)
Masters (Coursework)Year: 2025 Delivered: Online
About this course
Contact
Coordinator: Dr Violeta Schubert
Email: continuing-education@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Contact hours: https://unimelb.edu.au/professional-development/contact-us
Overview
| Award title | Master of Leadership for Development |
|---|---|
| Year & campus | 2025 — Parkville |
| Fees information | Subject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date |
| Study level & type | Graduate Coursework |
| AQF level | 9 |
| Credit points | 112.5 credit points |
| Duration | 24 months part-time |
The Master of Leadership for Development is a joint graduate degree offered by The University of Melbourne and University of Manchester delivered wholly online. The course is designed to foster the necessary skills in leadership required to effectively address the rapidly changing landscape in the development sector globally.
The contemporary development leader requires new skill sets to meaningfully respond to, and effectively navigate complex circumstances and challenges that they encounter in the changing global environment including shifting patterns of work, prolonged crisis and conflict, and poverty and widening inequality. In advancing individual leadership skills and competencies the course also offers techniques for development of leadership capacities of others and to meaningfully and effectively engage with a range of governmental, non-governmental, business and civil society stakeholders and partners.
The course offers a balance of advancing critical thinking and the development of skills and competencies required in leadership for development across different roles and contexts. Key thematic streams that run throughout each subject module allow students flexibility to develop or hone their skills within a specific area. While addressing important competencies such as communication, decision-making and self-reflection, the design of the subject modules ensures exercises and assessments are practical and applicable to students’ professional leadership aspirations.
The joint qualification draws on the combined strength of two world-class institutions: the University of Manchester and the University of Melbourne. The fully online programme provides the flexibility to study around your commitments and complete the course part-time over 24 months. The course embraces action-based, reflexive learning, facilitated through a comprehensive online platform, simulations, and individual and group projects. The course is designed to forge strong enduring networks among study fellows and alumni.
Links to further information
https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/master-of-leadership-for-development/
Entry requirements
1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
- an honours degree in a cognate discipline, or equivalent; and
- at least two years of documented relevant professional work experience, or
- an undergraduate degree in a cognate discipline or equivalent, with a weighted average mark of at least 70% or equivalent (eg University of Manchester’s 2:1); and
- at least two years of documented, relevant professional work experience, or
- a minimum of eight years documented, relevant work experience.
Meeting this requirement does not guarantee selection.
2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- prior academic performance; and
- relevance of previous studies.
3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.
4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for graduate courses. If English is not your first language, you need to take an English language test to demonstrate your English language proficiency for university study at Masters level. You are required to meet the IELTS minimum average performance of 6.5 with no lower than 6 on any band or the equivalence from another relevant English Language test accepted by University of Manchester or University of Melbourne.
Note:
Applicants seeking entry based on relevant work experience must document their experience with a brief curriculum vitae detailing the experience, contact details of two referees who can confirm the authenticity and nature of the experience claimed, and a covering letter that explains how the experience is relevant to the program and prepares them for it.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The course is designed for online delivery, students are required to participate online. Students will be required to meet some basic technological requirements such as ongoing and stable access to the internet, up to date browsers, and a microphone and headset for webinars (as specified at: https://online.unimelb.edu.au/support/current-students/apps-and-software-info/systems-and-support)
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this course, graduates will be able to:
Knowledge
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of a variety of leadership theories, approaches and frameworks;
- Demonstrate an advanced theoretical understanding and knowledge of current research, debates, policies and practices in leadership for development from a multidisciplinary and global perspective;
- Think systematically and systemically about individual, organisational, and environmental development processes in the contexts of development globally;
- Assess critically advantages and disadvantages associated with a range of leadership and management actions and change in complex development situations;
- Think creatively about leadership and managerial factors arising in development sector organisations and situations that can be incorporated into interventions, change designs, decisions and action plans
Skills
- Critically evaluate conceptual frameworks relevant for leading change in organisations and development
- Evaluate the social, cultural, political and historical contexts informing contemporary global development;
- Evaluate contemporary development studies research ideas and findings and communicate them to the wider community in an appropriate manner
- Evaluate, adapt and develop leadership practice in light of research and theoretical evidence;
- Demonstrate increased confidence in their ability to inspire and lead others
- Build reflexive practice capacities and skills by understanding the requisites and attributes of leadership
Application of Knowledge and Skills
- Develop and enact their own leadership style, ethics and values
- Apply appropriate leadership styles and practices to meet the issues arising from specific activities and contexts.
- Reflect on individual strengths and weaknesses and identify the steps that need to be taken to develop leadership practice
- Apply specialised theoretical understanding and knowledge of current research, debates, policies and practices in leadership for development from a multidisciplinary and global perspective;
- Plan and execute a research‐based project, or produce a piece of research scholarship within their area of specialisation, including framing a problem, posing an argument, analysing salient factors, and raising relevant implications and leadership actions;
- Develop participants' strategic international management capability to enable them to lead inter‐ and transorganisational development initiatives and collaborations with diverse stakeholders
- Comprehend the role and implications of digital data and technologies in order to optimise leadership and development outcomes
Generic skills
- Problem solve
- Critically Analyse
- Work as a team member
- Confidently tackle challenging real‐world problems
- Contribute respectfully to critical debate and discussions in various communication modes such as oral, written, and visual.
- Have Enhanced digital literacy skills
- Be Reflexive and have critical self‐awareness skills
Graduate attributes
- Academic distinction – the course provides in‐depth knowledge and opportunities for students to enhance critical thinking, incorporate innovative ideas and approaches to leadership. The knowledge and skills can be applied for solving complex problems in a range of challenging and cross‐cultural contexts culminating in a chosen capstone experience
- Active citizenship ‐ graduates will apply their appreciation of contemporary global issues and the importance of embedding ethical and culturally sensitive approaches as they engage with people and societies.
- Integrity and self‐awareness – graduates are encouraged to be reflexive practitioners who are critically self‐aware of their own ongoing learning and development and their potential impact on their ways of approaching relations and contexts
- Culturally and contextually appropriate leadership knowledge and skills‐ graduates are encouraged to develop strategic and cross‐cultural leadership skills, analytical competencies and knowledge to enable them to effectively engage with and lead development initiatives at a translocal and global level.
Course structure
The 112.5-point program consists of:
- Six compulsory subjects (75 points), and a
- Capstone Dissertation/ or Group Project (37.5 points)
Subject options
Compulsory subjects
(to be taken sequentially)
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVT90082 | Contemporary Development | September (Online) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90068 | Contemporary Leadership | November (Online) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90081 | Leading Development | March (Online) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90071 | Organisation Development and Change | May (Online) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90083 | International Management and Leadership | September (Online) |
12.5 |
| DEVT90070 | Leadership Skills in Action | November (Online) |
12.5 |
Capstone subject
(to be taken in the second year of the course)
| Code | Name | Study period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVT90069 | Leadership for Development Capstone |
March (Online)
September (Online)
|
37.5 |
Last updated: 27 February 2025