these are NOT official Open University Web pages   

Experience & explorations in
studying & working in development
-- human, community, institutional & environmental
(with information about aid, relief and humanitarian efforts as well)

 
The word development in most of the world means human development, community development, institutional development, environmental development, country development, etc. The word development is a contested term, and some approaches to improving people's lives could be seen more about "preservation" or "protection" (of resources, of traditional ways of life, etc.) rather than "progress" or "change." (All this is in contrast to the meaning of the word development in the USA, which means either fund-raising or software or business development)

Originally, this part of my web site was a blog about my experience with Open University in pursuit of my MSc in Development Management, and a way to link to OU resources I might need to access when I wasn't at my own computer. But over time, I expanded it to cover all of my work and continuing studies regarding development. This portion of my web site is intended to:

• Highlight development topics of particular interest to me, such as ways that folklore, rumors and urban myths interfere with development and aid/relief efforts, or the positive effects of sustainable development and alternative tourism and ways to cultivate efforts that support such, as well as to network with others who are also interested in such.

• Provide updates about my work in development including materials developed to build staff communications capacities in Afghanistan.

• Network with other professionals and students engaged or formerly engaged in development studies, with OU or other universities, or working in humanitarian, aid, relief and development in areas similar to my own experience and interest.

• To offer advice for studying and preparing assignments and for exams in the OU development management courses. Also, I've listed all of the OU development courses I have taken, with my thoughts on each.

• Provide information regarding why I decided to go for a post graduate degree, for those of you who are even barely considering such, as well as for those who might be considering choosing Open University.

• Provide highlights and resources from the research for my final paper for my Master's Degree, regarding "Theater as a Tool for Development".

view my reviews of development books at:

 
If you want to work or volunteer abroad, see this detailed advice and resources.

If you are interested in updates to this section of my web site, subscribe to my blog. Don't have an RSS reader to subscribe to blogs? Not sure what RSS is? Try this RSS tutorial.

   these are NOT official Open University Web pages   

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