ECTS
120 credits
Duration
2 years
Training Structure
School of Law and Political Science
Overview
- Co-Directors of Academic Programs: Marc Smyrl and Jean Joana
This master’s program, under the Public Policy track, offers a decidedly interdisciplinary and career-oriented curriculum focused on understanding the multi-institutional environment of international cooperation. It is designed for individuals interested in the practical realities of international action who are considering a professional future in the fields of cooperation and development assistance, whether at the level of national or decentralized cooperation, or within intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, and private sector entities. To this end, each cohort brings together a group of students representing diverse academic backgrounds, professional experiences, and national origins. Deeply rooted in its local and regional community through ties with international cooperation actors in the Occitanie region—research organizations, local governments, businesses, and associations—the program offers numerous opportunities for action and involvement from the very first years of study, as well as many points of contact to facilitate entry into the professional world.
Objectives
- Initial Training: Professionalizing an Academic Pathway
• Equip students from different academic backgrounds with the skills to work in the development cooperation sector
- Continuing Education: Career Development
• To enable professionals from diverse backgrounds (public sector, private sector, humanitarian sector, military, etc.) to advance in their careers and/or transition to a new professional setting
The program focuses on a concrete objective: to train practitioners in international cooperation and development—that is, individuals capable of quickly integrating into institutions, companies, and organizations working in these fields. The aim is to meet the needs increasingly expressed by these entities, which are seeking individuals who are aware of the practical challenges of cooperation and capable of adapting to diverse demands and environments.
The program emphasizes a thorough understanding of the intellectual and institutional frameworks of international cooperation, the diversity of contexts in international action, and the key tools required to implement cooperation and development programs. This objective is achieved through:
• interdisciplinary courses
• contributions from recognized professionals in the fields of international cooperation and development assistance
• a professional immersion experience during an internship lasting at least 4 months
Expertise and Skills
Ability to work in an international context, to advance in one’s career and/or change professional settings, project management, contextual analysis, and an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach.
Organization
Program
The master's program lasts two years:
The first year consists of two semesters of specialized academic courses, as well as practical modules introducing students to professional life and presentations focused on key sectors of development cooperation—such as migration, health, nutrition, and the environment/biodiversity—each taught by professionals in the field. The coursework is supplemented by group field projects carried out in collaboration with our local and regional partners in the nonprofit sector.
The second year is divided into two parts:
• The first part (September–January) is devoted to practical modules taught entirely by professionals and focused on the stages of the project management cycle: planning; assessment; project conceptualization; financing; implementation; and evaluation (technical and ethical). Modules are also offered on budget preparation and analysis, communication and advocacy, and team management. Group work and professional simulations are systematically prioritized.
• The period from February to August is devoted to an internship lasting at least 4 months.
Select a program
Master's Degree (Year 1) in International Cooperation and Development
Political Sociology of Elites (ST)
EU International Policy
6 creditsPolitical Anthropology (ST)
Context of International Cooperation (ST)
6 creditsEnvironment and Policy (ST)
EU Public Policy and Governance
6 creditsEU Language
Choose one of the following two options:
Digital Skills - In-Depth Research
Stakeholders and International Cooperation (ST)
4 creditsEU Language
Choose one of the following two options:
EU Development Policy
6 creditsThesis
4 creditsNations and Nationalism (ST)
Local Government (ST)
Conflict and Post-Conflict (ST)
Comparative Politics (ST)
Optional
Master's Degree (Year 2) in International Cooperation and Development
Ethical Issues
6 creditsProfessional Life
6 creditsProject Management
12 creditsStakeholders and Context
6 credits
Pre-Professional Skills Electives
Choose one of the following two options:
Admission
Admission Requirements
- The program is open (limited to 20 students per class) to:
• For the initial training program: students who hold a BAC+3 degree or an accredited Level II qualification
• For the continuing education program: employees and job seekers who hold the required degrees or who have had their professional experience validated (VAE/VAP). - The recruitment process consists of two stages:
• an eligibility stage: review of applications
• an admission stage: all candidates whose applications have been selected will undergo an audition
And then
Employment Placement
- This Master’s program is designed to meet the needs of emerging professions in the field of international technical expertise and to address changes in how these professions are practiced. It prepares students for activities essential to international cooperation and development assistance:
- identifying needs, stakeholders, and resources
- responding to national and international calls for proposals or project proposals
- managing cultural differences
- technical and administrative expertise
- project management: from the donor’s perspective and from the beneficiary’s perspective
- financial management and budget monitoring
- evaluation (technical and ethical) of processes and results
- These skills are in demand and put to use by a wide variety of organizations:
• public sector: government agencies, local governments, international organizations
• private sector: engineering firms, consulting firms, specialized companies
• nonprofit sector: international solidarity organizations, humanitarian aid organizations
Some of these professions are accessible through employment contracts, while others (in the public sector) require candidates to have first been admitted through a competitive examination. The Master’s program does not specifically prepare students for national or international civil service competitive examinations, but the education it provides can be an important resource for career guidance and for succeeding in such examinations.