When development economics emerged as an independent field in the post-1945 years, the answer to the question of what development is was rather simple: Development equals GNP growth. The subsequent seven decades of development studies have produced rich and varied outputs that have most recently led to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted offering a widely embraced framework for development work around the globe.
This Master level course at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland is addressing some central questions of development in two blocks. The first block is focused on the participants researching and presenting cases of development programs that are representative of different streams in development theory. The second block then took place in Geneva focused on meeting and interacting with development practitioners.
We are especially grateful for the tremendous support from the Permanent Representation of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and to the other International Organizations in Geneva, or in short, the Swiss Mission to the UN who have provided us with access to Palais des Nations and the conference venue in addition to delivering a presentation on the role of Switzerland as host nation to the UN Organizations in Geneva. Furthermore, a workshop on the relationship between trade and development was led by Emmanuel Barreto and a panel presented and discussed the work of UNCTAD, UNECE and Gib Bulloch who is looking at the relationship between business and society, drawing from over 20 years of private sector experience.