Integrated rural development is about raising economic performance for all rural economy sectors in order to promote the shaping of rural communities. Implementing such thinking about rural development requires specialists with specific and integrated skills for designing, deciding and managing rural policies, programmes and projects.

Our objective is to train students in assessing several ways of thinking on rural development worldwide. Each mobility track is therefore designed to generate an added value for our students. For more information of the different tracks go to the Programme page.

For a more in depth description of the courses taught at the different universities please consult the IMRD Study Guide

IMRD

Within the IMRD Erasmus Mundus programme, it is acknowledged that rural development has a key role to play to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with the three pillars of sustainable development as identified in the “SDG wedding cake”, the programme contains three focus areas: Environment, Society and Economy.

In the first semester, during the general entrance module at Ghent University all three focus areas will be covered in 3 introductory SDG labs, for the two advanced modules, three thematic mobility paths are designed each corresponding to a particular focus area (see below).

Within each mobility path students will become a specialist in a specific focus area through the course offer of the two universities offering the path. These focus areas correspond to the main specialization of these two universities.

The Environment focus area will deal with the links between rural development and our planetary boundaries coverings aspects such as climate change, management of natural resources and ecosystem services.This focus area is linked to SDG 6, 13, 14 and 15.

The Society focus area will emphasize the societal aspects of rural development covering themes like governance of local food systems, social transitions and collective action processes. This focus area is linked to SDG 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 16.

The Economy focus area finally deals with the interaction between economic and rural development looking for example at economic and agricultural policies , certification and marketing systems and impacts of globalization. During application students are asked to choose their preferred focus area. This focus area is linked to SDG 8, 9, 10 and 12.

IMRD+

In IMRD+ focus will be on comparative analysis of EU and Non-EU agricultural economics and rural development policies.

The added value of the programme is bringing students into contact with the common EU view on rural development and the diverse approaches/applications of this European paradigm. The IMRD programme stimulates comparison with other rural development visions through experiences in at least 2 EU countries and extensive exchange with non-EU partners.

By forming a network of institutions with clear competencies in the field of rural development and having experience in joint training programmes worldwide, a joint course programme is offered to meet the demand by (inter)national organisations and agencies for trained professionals.

As an IMRD graduate you will have theoretical knowledge in development theories, agricultural economics and policies as well as practical based comparative knowledge on different approaches regarding rural development. This will give you a competitive advantage when working in international organizations dealing with issues on global development, food trade, bio-resource production, international food policies and the like.