Social Development Practice MSc alumni experiences

My dissertation allowed me to zoom in on a topic I cared about, street-connected children, and investigate processes of exclusion in urban cities - Calcutta in my case. This ensured that although no module within Social Development Practice MSc focuses on young people specifically, I was able to bring my own topic and integrate it within my master’s so that I could simultaneously deepen my knowledge and position myself for my next career move.

At UCL, I earnestly embraced the Social Development Practice MSc’s particular focus on ‘people-centred’ approaches. It was helpful to first study the social theory around identity, inequality and change processes and then engage in real-life practice to advance inclusive design and planning in Indonesia, through a process of remote knowledge co-production.