About

There is a growing recognition that the challenges in the development and management of rural areas globally are due to a multitude of social, economic, political and ecological factors. Understanding and dealing with this complex and multi-layered reality therefore requires interdisciplinary analyses and innovative solutions.

This programme offers students knowledge and skills from different disciplines - with a key theoretical base in the social sciences - to create appropriate ways of managing rural problems in context.

UN's sustainable development goals in the education

SLU's educations creates knowledge which contributes to the goals for sustainable development, both in Sweden and internationally.

The programme is organised into themes that include introductory and advanced courses, offering students a broad understanding of rural development and natural resource management as well as more specialised knowledge of the different dimensions involved. Students are taught how to facilitate and manage developmental projects and to acquire knowledge and skills in conducting research. The courses will provide theoretical knowledge applied in case study scenarios, requiring active student involvement. Some examples of topics covered by the courses are the consquences of long-term aid in poor and weak welfare states, rural change and the role of non-farm and off-farm activities and farming practices, technologies and solutions for sustainable farming, fishing and forestry.

Future

A Master´s degree in Rural Development and Natural Resource Management from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences offers job prospects in fields such as with projects or organisations in the development arena, the academic world, research, the private sector, consultancy firms, policy design and facilitation, governmental or non-governmental organisations and local, national or international institutions.