The Indian School of Development Management (ISDM) is a premier institution that aims to provide high-quality education and training to individuals who want to pursue a career in the development sector.

The institute offers a new-age Post Graduate Program in Development Management (PGP DM) that is designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to become effective leaders and managers in the development sector.

Although the Master of Social Work (MSW) program has been around for decades, it is important to understand how the PGP DM course offered by ISDM is different and suited for individuals who want to pursue a career in the development sector.

The 11 month PGP DM program blends ideas of development with concepts of management, combines in-class sessions with a two-week field component called 'Realising India', and promotes collaborative group work.

Let’s take a look at the curriculum offered by ISDM which is designed to help accelerate the career of development professionals to the leadership position.

PGP DM offers 29 Courses (each course will be 10 sessions of two hours spread over the term) offered over the year fall into three clusters and comprises of the following:

1. Understanding Society and Development
2. Design of Interventions for Social Impact
3. Curated Development Management Courses

In addition, two modules run throughout the year in both formal classroom sessions and workshop mode:

4. Personal Mastery for Development Leadership
5. Writing in the Discipline

Another important feature of the PGP DM program is the 2-week on-ground Realising India field immersion program. This 2-week field immersion happens in a rural district that enables the students to engage with the ground realities faced by the community living there.

Key Signature Components of PGP DM program:

1. A unique Context-Based Collaborative Learning pedagogy that enables students to understand the contextual realities and complexities needed to develop sustainable solutions for impact in the social sector.
2. ‘'Writing in the Discipline' workshop that is meant to equip students to excel in written and oral communication.
3. Assigned Bricoleurs (learning mentors) to each student to provide personal mentoring throughout their academic journey.

Here's why ISDM's PGP DM has focused professional prospects

Focus on Development Management:

While an MSW degree provides a broad-based education in social work practice, policy, and research, the PGP DM course offered by ISDM focuses specifically on development management. This means that students in the PGP DM program learn how to manage development programs and projects effectively, with a focus on achieving measurable social impact.

Practical Orientation:

The PGP DM course offered by ISDM is highly practical and emphasises hands-on learning. Students are required to complete fieldwork or internships with development organisations, which gives them valuable practical experience in managing development programs and projects. This practical orientation ensures that students are well-equipped to tackle real-world challenges in the development sector.

Faculty and Network:

ISDM has 75+ experienced global faculty with expertise in various areas of development management. The faculty members have worked with leading development organisations and have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the sector. Additionally, ISDM has a strong network of partner organisations that provide students with access to a wide range of resources and opportunities.

Career Impact:

ISDM students have a plethora of distinctive and varied career paths available to them, both in for-profit and not-for-profit sectors, locally, nationally, and internationally. These opportunities are available across various themes, such as health, education, water, sanitation, gender, and research and advocacy. ISDM's partnerships and affiliations with diverse organisations provide students with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the development sector.

Students of the PGP DM Program are prepared to take on various roles in development sector organisations, start their own for-impact organisations and in time, take on senior leadership, and management responsibilities in the sector. They come with a unique blend of understanding contextual realities and social change along with an understanding of how organisations work. ISDM students would be able to work in social sector organisations in a variety of different areas, especially in managerial or leadership roles. Some examples of roles they could take up are:

• Program Operations and Management
• Communications and Engagement
• Fund Raising (Retail, Corporate, Multilateral sources, HNI’s etc.)
• Strategy & Data-based Decision Making
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Government Relations and Advocacy
• Strategic Partnerships and Alliances
• Monitoring & Evaluation
• EA to CEO
• Co-Founders: Collaborate with individuals who have started organisations in the development sector

What's the difference between a Master's in Social Work and PGP DM?

While both an MSW (Master of Social Work) and the PGP-DM Program are designed to prepare people to work in the Social Sector, they are different in many ways. An MSW is geared more towards familiarising students with how to do field work and work at the grass-root level, and the PGP-DM Program aims to teach the management and leadership skills required in the social sector. The students who do the PGP-DM Program go on to manage and lead in the sector in many different capacities.

While Master of Social Work (MSW) degree offers a strong basis in social work practise, policy, and research, the PGP-DM offered by ISDM is appropriate for people who aspire to have managerial and leadership responsibilities in development management. PGP-DM has a unique curriculum and pedagogy, has a global faculty and strong alumni network, and has produced successful alumni who have had a substantial impact on the development sector.

If you are interested in a career in development management, the PGP-DM course offered by ISDM is definitely worth considering.