*POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES IN LOCAL AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT* Local and regional development is undergoing a period of unprecedented change. New debates about globalisation, knowledge economy, competitiveness, rebalancing, inclusion, sustainability and wellbeing are profoundly changing the nature of local and regional development definitions, processes, institutions and policies. International trends towards decentralisation, regionalisation, city-regionalism and localism are changing administrative and governance structures at the national, regional, sub-regional and local levels. The global financial crisis, economic downturn and austerity have generated thoroughgoing reorganisation of economic development and regeneration arrangements and practices. Such challenges have focused the minds of local and regional policy-makers in shaping their responses to disruptive economic change, and building the adaptive capacity and resilience of local and regional economies. Together, these inter-related developments are generating new challenges, and a demand to build capacity for analysis, strategy and policy-making for local and regional development amongst individuals and institutions in the public, private and voluntary and community sectors.
The Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS), Newcastle University, has two postgraduate programmes that connect directly with this emerging local and regional development agenda: - MA in Local and Regional Development (Research) (ESRC-recognised). - MA in Regional Development and Spatial Planning – delivered jointly with the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. For each course participant, the courses aim: - To provide knowledge and understanding of contemporary local and regional development, governance and spatial planning theory, policy and practice in an international context. - To develop the practical skills and capabilities required to engage, research, and participate in the emergent local and regional development and spatial planning agendas. - To achieve a relevant postgraduate qualification in Local and Regional Development, and Spatial Planning at MA level. Course modules include: Local and Regional Development Theory and Policy; Local and Regional Development and Governance; Local and Regional Development: Methodology, Analysis and Statistics; and the Research Dissertation. The MA Local and Regional Development programme has been validated by the Institute of Economic Development (IED) (http://www.ied.co.uk/). Further details and the CURDS MA podcast are available from the Postgraduate section in the CURDS (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/curds/study/). For further information, please contact: Danny MacKinnon Professor of Regional Development and Governance Degree Programme Director Tel. +44(0)191 222 8604 Fax. +44 (0)191 232 9259 E-mail: danny.mackin...@ncl.ac.uk Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/curds/people/profile/danny.mackinnon
