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MA in rural sustainability

Programme Co-Directors Dr Maura Farrell, Dr John McDonagh and Dr Marie Mahon Rm 123a, Discipline of Geography School of Geography & Archaeology NUI Galway University Road Galway Ireland Tel:       +353 (0)91 494118 Fax:      +353 (0)91 494118 E-mail:  maura.farrellnuigalway.ie; john.mcdonaghnuigalway.ie; marie.mahonnuigalway.ie

This Masters Programme is extremely timely as it comes when there is increasing attention being placed upon the role and function of rural economies and societies. The development agenda for rural areas within a rapidly-changing context for agriculture and the broader countryside sees pressures to achieve economic competitiveness and efficiency balanced with concerns relating to food security, environmental protection and climate change, and where questions of equality, social inclusion, quality of life and the public good are central. Reflecting particularly the globalizing nature of agriculture and rural development processes, the MA in Rural Sustainability addresses the nature of rural and agricultural change not only across a range of dimensions (economic, social, political, cultural), but also scales (local, national, global), locations (Europe and beyond), and interfaces (e.g. human and non-human).  As such, it situates itself within the context of leading contemporary and emerging thinking and research on the rural, drawing on concepts and theories, as well as methodologies and practices that critically engage with these varied dimensions of the rural.

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€3000 Award for Best Student Performance in MA in Rural Sustainability

The Dr. Patrick Commins Rural Research Award, valued at €3,000 per annum, for the best overall MA student performance was announced at the official launch of the MA in Rural Sustainability in December 2012.  Dr. Maura Farrell, Director of the MA, spoke of her delight at the announcement of this prestigious award, and praised Teagasc for their generous sponsorship and their support of the programme. Dr Farrell described the award ’as a considerable incentive for current and future students interested in rural studies and a real vote of confidence in the quality and importance of the Masters programme’. In particular Dr Farrell felt that in these economically stringent times, the award was a statement about the importance of rural issues in broader global economic recovery and the need to develop well-informed and educated leaders who understand the complexities of rural economy and society. The award is a tribute to Dr. Commins who was a leading academic and researcher in rural issues and had a long and distinguished career with their organisation.  His reputation as an expert on rural affairs extended well beyond Ireland, and his knowledge and experience was regarded as key to informing EU and wider international academic and policy debates. 

	Dr John McDonagh, Dr Marie Mahon, Mairin Ui Chomain, Prof. Gerry Boyle & Dr Maura Farrell pictured at the announcement of the Patrick Commins award.

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Launch of the Master of Arts in Rural Sustainability

NUI Galway has officially launched a new Masters Programme in Rural Sustainability. The full-time, one year postgraduate programme is being co-ordinated by the Discipline of Geography within the School of Geography and Archaeology, and it already has a full complement of students in place for the first year of its operation. The Programme has been devised in response to increasing attention nationally and internationally on the role and function of rural economies and societies.  NUI Galway holds a distinguished tradition of rural research and teaching. As a European University that is itself situated in a rural and peripheral location, it seeks to continue its leadership role in rural affairs through providing a postgraduate career path in rural studies. The Programme was officially launched by Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc. This association with Teagasc, particularly with its own strong leadership in rural research, is an important component of the programme as it unites expertise in rural theory, research and practice, ultimately benefiting the student experience and future employability.

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MA in Rural Sustainability class 2012-2013

	The MA in Rural Sustainability Class and staff attended the National Rural Development Conference, October 2012

On behalf of my colleagues, I want to extend a warm welcome to the first MA in Rural Sustainability class within the Discipline of Geography, NUI Galway.  The coming year represents a challenge for both students and staff alike, but it is with excitement and enthusiasm we embrace the challenge.  The MA will be officially launched on the 19th December by the Director of Teagasc, Professor Gerry Boyle.

Dr. Maura Farrell

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Aims and Objectives

This programme will equip future decision-makers with theoretically informed, critical and practical skills focused on the interrelationship between rural activities and the dynamic global economy. The programme will provide students with a clear understanding of the processes, perspectives and practices shaping the contemporary and future rural world.  There is a strong focus on the formulation of rural and agricultural development policies and strategies; the role of global actors from multi-national corporations to the rural household; the nature and impact of rural-related governance from the WTO and EU to local institutions and grassroots organizations. In supporting programme relevance and opening up potential employment routes, a key motivation of the MA is the development of student skill-sets through significant focus on practical and field-based learning, including overseas field course and service learning where appropriate. Students will also be encouraged to build networks with key agencies nationally and internationally, with stakeholders and with leaders in rural communities.

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Why Choose this Programme?

If you are interested in rural sustainability, rural innovation, multifunctionality and agriculture, and you wish to contribute in a meaningful way to rural affairs and potentially influence the contribution rural areas can make in revitalizing the economy at national and European level, this MA Programme can support such an ambition.  This MA will enable students to develop theoretical competencies and independent research capacities, with the ability to transfer and apply these to real world contexts and settings.  The programme is delivered by a team of dedicated and highly respected academics and researchers from the School of Geography & Archaeology and by motivated contributors from other associated Schools, from other Universities and from Research Institutions; by individuals drawn from policy and practice-based domains.  This MA situates itself within contemporary and forward-looking perspectives on the rural; however, it also builds on a long-established track record of rural studies and rural research conducted at NUIG, with strong networks of collaboration at national, European and wider international levels across academic and research institutions, as well as the Institutions of the European Union. In particular, this MA expands on a highly successful EU-funded Framework 7 research project (DERREG), exploring contemporary and future challenges facing rural areas in an era of globalization.  It thus represents an important transfer of knowledge from research that has been built on relevant international case-study examples from 6 EU member states and which has informed critical theoretical discussions and policy debates on the rural at EU level.  This development to a taught programme offers students an opportunity to benefit from such knowledge and expertise drawn from widely differing rural contexts

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Career Opportunities?

As a graduate of this programme, you will possess a depth of rural-specific knowledge combined with a host of transferrable skills.  This combination will equip you to work in a selection of contexts that require the ability to think at conceptual levels about rural-related issues and transfer this knowledge into practical applications and solutions in policy, management and consultancy domains.  Among the potential employment settings are national and international organizations and agencies with a rural development remit, groups and consultancies related to a range of government programmes, government departments and other public sector organizations concerned with the rural sector.  The MA is Rural Sustainability is also designed to enhance students’ prospects for undertaking further research at PhD level, with our students being well placed to pursue PhD studies in universities nationally and internationally.

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Programme Content

Course		Semester	ECTS
TI502	Dissertation (Research Paper)	2  May-August	30
TI503	Conceptualising the Rural - Policy, Strategy and Governance	1	10
TI504	Rural Community and Field-based Learning	2	20
TI505	Rural Development and Communication for Rural Innovation	2	10
TI506	The Multifunctional Countryside	1	10
TI507	Research Methodologies; Practising Rural Geography	1	10

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Assessment (90 ECTS)

Students are required to complete all modules for a 90 ECTS Masters. Students will be assessed throughout the programme by a combination of case-study reports, project assignments, seminar presentations and group research. Students must also submit a dissertation/research report based on original research. The topic for the dissertation/research report will be agreed, after consultation, with individual supervisors. The MA shall not be awarded to any candidate who does not achieve a pass mark in the dissertation/reserach module.  .

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Programme Application

• All particulars of how to apply including information re: fees and funding can be found here; for further course info. see here.
• Applications to the programme are made online via the Postgraduate Applications Centre.
• For all non-EU applicants please also contact the International Affairs Office.
• For information on NUI Galway's Taught Masters Scholarships 2012/13, see here.
• For details of NUI Galway's Student Assistance Fund click here; see also the HEA Student Grant Scheme.

Applications for 2013-2014 are now open.

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Entry Requirements

NQAI Level 8 overall degree (2.2) with a 2.1 in Geography or related discipline, or equivalent (prior learning in terms of relevant work experience is also recognized)

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Selection Criteria

Places are limited and selection is based on 3 criteria:

1. 1.  Academic Record
2.  Letters of Recommendation
3.  Personal Statement

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