Accra, Ghana at NYU in Ghana Campus
June 2-11, 2008
While there are contentious debates on the effectiveness of foreign aid and the policy methods for bringing about economic growth in developing nations, there is widespread agreement that more evaluation and accountability is needed in the development sector. This nine-day institute will provide participants with the opportunity to develop program evaluation skills through an innovative mix of traditional classroom methods and applied field projects with NGOs and public sector organizations in Ghana. The course will begin with a review of the rationales for intervening in the market and a study of the frameworks that can be used to design sustainable development projects and programs. The week will continue with in-depth analyses of program evaluation techniques -- process evaluation, qualitative techniques, quasi-experimental techniques, randomized experiments -- and how they can be used to measure the impacts of the programs. The limitations, appropriateness, and ethical implications of each technique will also be examined. Participants will finish course with a theoretical knowledge base and practical experience that enables them to apply evaluation techniques in the developing country context.
Course prerequisites: P11.1011 and P11.1018 for Wagner students. A basic statistics course, including some regression analysis, and a basic microeconomics course for non-Wagner students.
Within the nine-day course framework, participants will have an opportunity to spend three days with an NGO interviewing the organization about the rationales for their current programs and how the programs were designed, and documenting the types of program evaluation that have been incorporated into their programs. During the practicum portion of the course there will be additional sessions for students to share their field site experiences with one another and the instructor and to reflect on how the material learned in the classroom can be used in practice.,
Participants who would like to further develop their skills via an internship with a public service organization in Ghana will receive guidance and a list pre-vetted organizations that would like to secure an intern for the remainder of the summer.
Tuition: $3,897 (4 credits, matriculated graduate students)
$2,500 (noncredit participants and non-NYU students; Register online)
Non-Refundable housing and program and activities fee: approximately $600
Participants will stay at the NYU in Ghana student housing. A meal plan for several dinners and an opening luncheon is provided (inclusive in the activities fee). Students will be responsible for the remaining lunches, and all breakfasts. There are restaurants and food stores near the NYU Ghana site.
Registration for NYU students starts on February 4, 2008. Non-Wagner NYU students wishing to register for the summer courses should email Charles Nicolson at charles.nicolson@nyu.edu on that date. Wagner students should register via Albert on February 4, 2008.
Non-credit participants should register online. Non-NYU participants wishing to take the course for-credit should contact the Office of International Programs (OIP) at wagner.international@nyu.edu or call 212-998-7482 for registration instructions.
For all inquiries about the program contact wagner.international@nyu.edu, or call 212-998-7482.