PGPDM is 39 credit program divided into three terms and culminating in a development management research project. It includes 28 courses covering development-related subjects and foundational and cutting-edge management subjects. PGPDM pedagogical and curricular innovations include:
- Blending theory and practice enables the participants to continue working in their organisations and simultaneously apply the classroom learnings in their organisations.
- Interactive pedagogy with a focus on real-life problem-solving and case studies.
- Application exercises and field-based assignments and projects during the off-contact period to test and ensure the relevance of knowledge acquired in classroom settings to the participant’s work environment.
- Mandatory mentor and sponsoring parent or adopting organisation for every participant to help them apply their learnings and get support during such application.
- Mahir Milan- A student-driven activity with special sessions organised for interactions with practitioners and experts from the field.
- Manthan – Book reading sessions to inculcate reading habits and learn from the stalwarts in the field.
- Coverage of development-related subjects such as Understanding Society & Government, Theory of Change, Program Design & Management, Sustainable Development Goals, Fund Raising & Resource Mobilisation, Programme Evaluation & Impact Assessment, and cutting-edge ideas such as Design Thinking, Management of Change, Social Media & Digital Marketing and Technology for Development.
- A Development Management project spreads throughout the duration of the programme, across all terms, to ensure that the key learning of the programme finds its way into the practical world of the participants and provides an avenue for exploring new ideas in the development sector.
- Regular reflections and feedback sessions with the programme head.