IGNOU Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies (MAGD) Admissions 2013

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU),

Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-68

Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies (MAGD)

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)’s Master of Arts in Gender and Development Studies (MAGD) programme is likely to be of interest to academics and researchers; trainers, facilitators, supervisors; staff of organizations working in the area of gender and development; government personnel; personnel working in banks and financial institutions.

Development policies and practices have a differential impact on women and men. This necessitates an understanding of the “gender gap” in access to resources, privileges, entitlements and choices. Consensus has evolved around the need to explore the “gender gap” in key development sectors and how this gap can be bridged. There is now greater emphasis on main streaming gender perspectives into the development process. This will contribute to building a gender-sensitive rubric of development, recasting development theory and action in the “direction of improved living standards, socially responsible management and use of resources, elimination of gender subordination and socioeconomic inequality as well as to promote the organizational restructuring required to bring about desirable change.”

Exploration of gender issues has become an important activity for most non-governmental organizations. Increasing emphasis is being laid in Governmental agencies on establishing gender-differential impacts and taking positive, affirmative action towards gender equality and equity. It is now widely acknowledged that gender considerations need to be reflected in all development plans, programmes and policies. There is growing concern over the isolation of women in so-called “soft” sectors in education, employment and development rather than mainstreaming gender concerns across all organizations, institutions and activities. While the concerns are clearly articulated, national goals and the UN millennium development goals cannot be achieved without concrete effort towards gender equality.

Achieving gender equality and gender equity requires multi-pronged approaches and strategies. One of the key approaches and strategies revolves around design and development of suitable educational programmes that equip practitioners and policy makers with the requisite knowledge and skills to make a valuable contribution in this sphere. The Master’s/ Postgraduate Diploma programmes would make an excellent foundation for analyzing, critically assessing existing development interventions and promoting gender-sensitive/genderbased research and action. The strong focus envisaged on positive affirmative action would be of considerable significance.

Programmes Objectives: The programmes seek to enable learners to: analyze extent of gender sensitivity of development interventions; conduct gender analysis; critically analyze gender differentials in selected development sectors; identify appropriate research designs and methodologies for a range of research problems; suggest positive affirmative action in development planning and practice to promote gender equity and equality.

The broad structure for the Master’s Degree/ PG Diploma in Gender and Development Studies uses a modular approach. The 1st Year courses (36 credits) if successfully completed would earn the learner a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development Studies. If the learner continues with the 2nd Year courses(36 Credits) and successfully completes them, the learner would earn a Master’s degree in Gender and Development Studies. Specializations according to the learner’s interest could be chosen from a range of optional using a choice-based credit system.

Eligibility for MAGD is graduation in any discipline. The duration of the programme is two years, However it can be completed in a maximum period of 5 years The programme is being offered through IGNOU’s School of Gender and Development Studies(SOGDS) (sogds@ignou.ac.in)

For details, visit IGNOU Website- www.ignou.ac.in or contact nearest IGNOU Regional Centre/Study Centre. Prospectus can be obtained from Regional Centres in person in Rs.200/-, or by post by sending a DD of Rs.250/- in favour of IGNOU, New Delhi, to Registrar (Student Registration Division), Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-68.It can be downloaded from the university website www.ignou.ac.in.

Last Date for receipt of Applications is 15th June 2013