Centre for Development, Environment and Policy at SOAS, University of London
Centre for Development Environment and Policy, is one of SOAS's research and teaching centres, and is part of the University of London International Programmes. CeDEP is a distance learning centre that offers postgraduate qualifications in the subject areas of sustainable development, poverty reduction and environmental management. CeDEP's research covers the regions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East placing huge emphasis on the need for informed professionals with inter-disciplinary skills and understanding to effectively tackle environmental issues, poverty, including their ethical, political, economic, social and technical dimensions. The role of distance learning is highlighted within CeDEP not only as a mode of teaching in the subject areas of sustainable development, poverty reduction and environmental management, but also as a tool for development keeping in mind that CeDEP's research interests are best addressed and tackled by researchers and students placed in the physical field of their studies in various regions around the world. In addition, CeDEP hosts several researchers and candidates for PhD degrees.
Background
The Centre for Development, Environment and Policy has a 20-year history of distance learning, and was originally part of the University of London’s Wye College, then later becoming part of Imperial College, and more recently SOAS. The Centre specialises in research into sustainable development and the causes of poverty.
Study programmes
The CeDEP programmes of study are widely based on the outcome of CeDEP's research which is widely applied on a national and international level. The following Master's programme are based on these research areas:
The CeDEP's academic staff undertakes research and, support several international PhD students. The areas covered by research are divided into four main streams:
Socio-economic, technical and institutional opportunities and constraints for agricultural and rural development, food systems and poverty reduction in poor areas
Approaches for sustainable development and environmental management, particularly relating to the atmosphere, water resources, and the environmental and developmental impacts of intensive agriculture
Development of distance learning techniques and pedagogic methods taking advantage of changing access to new information and communication technologies in developing countries
Publications
The staff members of CeDEP are the editors of the Food Policy journal which rank's first in agricultural economics, which is published by Elsevier.
