Master's Degree: Planning and Development (classroom system) - Institute of National Planning

Description

Institute of National Planning (INP) has been established in 1960 as an independent public institution conducting scientific activity that covers all fields and issues of planning and development. Institutional structure of INP has been developed so as to enhance its role as a center for scientific thinking (Think Tank) by the Law No. 13 of 2015. INP is also concerned with conducting research and studies, presenting consultations, building capacities and servicing community through training programs, and granting scientific degrees (Diploma, M. Ph., and Ph.D.) individually or in collaboration with national and foreign universities and research centers. The Program of Academic Master in Planning and Development is accredited by the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, that is equivalent to the Master Degree granted by the Egyptian universities that are subject to the university law No. 49 of 1972 and its implementing regulations, of Faculty of Economics and Political Sciences in equivalent specializations. The programs aims to prepare highly qualified staff members in the field of planning and development who are qualified enough to deal with national and international variables in their governmental and private organizations aiming to develop and increase their efficiency by creating a new modern educational and training environment that is able to mix up knowledge, scientific experience and practical work; and that provides the elements of creation and future vision that can achieve uniqueness.

Program Informations

Introduction

Development of knowledge and skills of planning curricula, theories and techniques.
Development of knowledge and skills of development curricula and theories.
Preparing reports of evaluating and monitoring plans and performance.
Preparing a scientific research of any issue relevant to planning and development.

Study System

The period of the study is two academic years.

The first academic year includes (5) complementary courses in an introductory semester, followed by (8) courses within two semesters.
The second academic year includes (8) advanced courses within two academic semesters.
After the two years, the student is to prepare a thesis in one of the issues related to planning and development, which are suggested by scientific centers annually, to be defended in a public discussion after one year of registration at least

Target Audiance

Employees in the fields of planning and development at departments of planning and monitoring in all units of state apparatus, ministries, economic and service agencies; and local administration units inside and outside Egypt.
Employees at the private and public business sectors and NGOs.

Criteria for joining the program

Passing tests of complementary courses successfully.
Passing tests of the two academic years successfully, with a grade of “Good” at least for each year.
Preparing a thesis (according to the rules of choosing the subject, scientific supervision, and follow-up adopted in the Egyptian universities). The thesis is to be defended in a public discussion before a Discussion and Jury Committee formed for this purpose.

Study program

The Program is to be executed along two years: the first year is for the general stage, while the second year is for the specialized stage, according to the fields of sustainable development as follows:

A- First Year: The General Stage (Eight courses). Duration of the stage is eight months.

B- Second Year: The Specialized Stage (Six courses). Duration of the stage is eight months, including the course of “Applied Research” to prepare a research in one of the planning and development issues with priority as for the scholar interests. A professor is responsible of this course to guide scholars towards the eight specialized scientific centers according to the subject of the applied research.

Specialized groups have been formed on the basis of the three main axes of sustainable development, from which the scholar is to choose one, as follows:

·Track One: Planning for Economic Development.
Track Two: Planning for Social Development.
Track Three :of Environmental Planning.

Also, the scholar is to choose two of the courses available in the group of elective courses as follows: Economics of Transportation and Energy, Evaluation of Industrial Projects, Evaluation of Agricultural Projects, Evaluation of Service Projects, Knowledge Economics, Social Justice and Development, International Negotiation, International Economic Blocks, Strategic Administration, Management and Decision Support Systems, Development Role of NGOs, Environmental Evaluation of Development Plans and Projects, Natural Resource Management, Planning for Regional Development, and Smart and Sustainable Cities.

Program Semesters

First Semester

Title	Aims	Class	Attachements	URl
Principals of Economics	This course aims to study economics in terms of its definition, methods of analysis and policies. In addition, it aims at enabling the student to be aware of microeconomic market patterns, consumption, production and pricing decisions, besides analyzing the performance indicators of the national economy as a whole. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Microeconomics topics: Principles of Economics., Theories of Consumer Behavior, Supply and Demand Forces, Elasticities, Production and Cost Theories; Economic Markets (Perfect Competition – Monopoly). Macroeconomics Topics: The General Equilibrium and the main economic variables, The Income, product, expenditure flow and the Income-product accounts, Employment and unemployment, Consumption and the role of the household sector in the economic activity, Investment and the role of the business sector in the economic activity, The role of Money in the Economic activity and the monetary policy, The role of government in the economic activity and the fiscal policy, International trade, balance of payments and exchange rate, Macroeconomic models, Contemporary Economic Issues.	first class	Download	View
Applied Statistics	This course mainly aims to introduce the student to the mathematical and statistical methods of data analysis. This goal is achieved by studying the following: Descriptive Statistics; Statistical Inference: Estimation; Statistical Hypothesis Testing; Simple and Multiple linear correlation and regression; Time Series Analysis; Indices.	first class	Download	View
Methods and Methodologies of Scientific Research	The course aims to familiarize the student with scientific research methods, research sources and references, and acquire the skill of research techniques. This goal is achieved through studying the Importance of Scientific Research; Research proposal; References available for a student to get a research problem from; Methods of data collection; Research Methodologies; Writing Research.	first class	Download	View
Applied Mathematics	The course mainly aims to introduce the student to mathematical applications in the field of economics and how to use mathematical functions and equations in analyzing important economic issues. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Linear Functions and their Economic and administrative application; Non-Linear Functions and their Economic and administrative application; Systems of Equations (Solution and application); Determinants and Matrices and their economic and administrative application; Maximization Functions with one economic or administrative variable; Economic Applications to the instant rate of change of a function; Linear rate of change in more than one variable.	first class	Download	View
Introduction to Computer	The course aims to provide the student with knowledge of the principles of using the computer and its various programs necessary for daily uses in the field of scientific research, in addition to giving an overview of how to use and search the Internet. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Basic Concepts to Information Technology; Dealing with MS Word in Writing and Printing; Dealing with MS Excel in data mining; Dealing with MS Power Point to merge images and text with motion and voice; Dealing with MS Access to build data base; Dealing with the internet.	first class	Download	View

First Year - Second Semester

Title	Aims	Class	Attachements	URl
Local Development and Regional Planning	This course aims to address the various analytical methods of regional planning in order to prepare, evaluate and monitor regional and local development plans. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Local Development and Regional Planning; The Analytical Methods to the Regional Planning; Local Administration and Local Finance; Methods of Regional Plan preparation and management; Regional Development strategies and policies.	first class	Download	View
Quantitative Methods in Decision Making	This course aims at the student’s study of quantitative methods and to analyze scientific problems and solve them using mathematical and econometric tools to reach the main objective, which is decision-making. To achieve this goal, the student studies the following: The theory of Decision Making and modeling; The concept of Quantitative Modeling and its types; Formulating some real-world problems using quantitative models; The most important models of certainty, probability and strategy and their uses; Information Systems; Computer Applications.	first class	Download	View
Envioronment and natural Resources Management	This course mainly aims to study contemporary environmental issues at the national and global levels and their various impacts. In addition, it allows the student to understand the analytical tools of environmental economics and legislative frameworks for environmental protection besides the optimal utilization of natural resources. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Some Local and Global Environmental Issues; Comprehensive environmental administration; The Environmental and some economic and social issues; Basis and systems of environmental information; The legal and institutional framework to protect the environment; Optimum utilization of natural resources.	first class	Download	View
The Social Planning and Human Resources Development	This course aims to introduce the student to social and cultural development and link it to the planning process. Moreover, it enables the student to understand the delivery of social projects, in addition to studying human development indicators, concepts of social justice, sustainable development, and human capital development in all aspects. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Human Development; Social and Cultural planning; Social Policies; Ways and Methods of measuring human development indices; Social Programs and projects Management; Planning and presenting social programs and projects; Managing and developing human resources.	first class	Download	View

Second Year - First Semester

Title	Aims	Class	Attachements	URl
Program and Project Management	This course aims to address modern management methods, how to prepare plans and manage them successfully, and to enable the student to use all management tools represented in information systems, budgets, and optimal use of resources. To reach this goal, the student studies the following: Modern methods in institutional management; A historical view and a future vision; The role of the manager in the contemporary management; The nature of an organization, levels of management, management as a dynamic process, the traditional	second class	Download	View
Feasibility Studies of Projects	This course aims to deepen the student’s understanding of the various economic, social, marketing, environmental and financial aspects of feasibility studies and project evaluation. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Projects as one of the tools of economic and social development; Market study and demand forecasting; The technical study of the project; Organization and project management; Estimating costs and benefits of the project and its financial plan; Financial Analysis to the Project; Economic analysis of the project; Social and Environmental analysis of projects; Project analysis in risk and uncertainty; Computer application on case studies; Preparing and evaluating the final report of the feasibility study.	second class	Download	View
Analytical Methods for Regional Planning	this course mainly aims to study and analyze regional plans aims at achieving sustainable development. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: The Importance of Regional Analysis – measuring the efficiency of the regional economic basis; Estimating the regional domestic product; Measuring regional growth – specialization -Concentration – diffusion; Regional settlement (theories – policies – the importance of industrial settlement); Geographical Information Systems.	second class	Download	View
Strategic Management and Future Studies	The course aims to provide the student with strategic management concepts and strategic thinking skills, and hence the ability to evaluate and control strategies, and to identify the relation between future studies of sustainable development and long-term planning. This goal is achieved by studying the following: Globalization; Strategic Management, direction and strategic choice in globalization; External and Internal environment of an entity; Strategic Thinking; Strategy implementation; Strategic Evaluation and Monitoring.	second class	Download	View

Second Year - Second Semester

Title	Aims	Class	Attachements	URl
Total Quality Management	This course mainly aims to identify the basics of total quality management and the methods of its application. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Principles of Total Quality Management (TQM); Statistical quality control; Quality costs; Total Quality management Application; Experiences of some international companies(such as Xerox, IBM and Motorola); Common Mistakes about TQM Application; A study of the opportunities to apply total quality management on a company.	second class	Download	View
Modern Scientific Methods	This course aims to enable the student to use various decision support models and methods. This is done by the student studying the following: Decision Support Systems (DSS); Artificial Intelligence; Expert Systems; Agent Technology; Methods of Neural Networks and its applications; Interactive game model (Interactive programming); Models of linear programming of multiple goals and its application in an interactive way with the decision maker; Reverse optimization programming method; Data Envelopment Analysis; Genetic and biotechnology and their uses.	second class	Download	View
Crisis Management and Emergency Planning	This course mainly aims to provide the student with crisis management skills, control systems and operation of crisis management units, and how to benefit from previous experiences. This goal is achieved through the student’s study of the following: Risks, crisis and emergency situations and development; Risks and Crisis Management; The organizational structure of the crisis management unit; Planning for emergencies through future scenarios; Information technology and communication and its function in crisis management; Case Studies: The External debt crisis, Liquidity and economic recession crisis, Tourism crisis, Health Crisis, Food crisis.	second class	Download	View
Negotiation	This course aims to enable the student to become familiar with negotiation skills and the factors affecting the success of negotiation processes. To achieve this goal, the student studies the following: Basics of Negotiation; Factors affecting the negotiation process; Negotiation stages and steps; Negotiation management; Employing different techniques and game models in effective negotiation management; Effective negotiation strategies and tactics; Presentation and analysis of some negotiation situations; Management and follow-up negotiation in the field of concluding contracts; Practical case workshops.	second class	Download	View

Elective Courses

Title	Aims	Class	URl
Capacity Building: Theory and Practice	This course is designed to provide the students with valuable knowledge and skills that can allow them to get to the market. Capacity development is now broadly recognized as an essential component of any successful process of change and a key factor of effectiveness for international development projects. In 2012, the World Bank Institute reported that donors assigned 30 billion dollars per year on capacity development activities. In this course, students will be given the opportunity to delve into what it means to help people learn and acquire competencies both theoretically and practically. They will also explore the different approaches that are used to develop the capacities of various stakeholders during development interventions. Using case studies and examples from international development projects, students will be acquainted with the factors and challenges influencing the extent to which interventions aiming to increase capacities manage to deliver results or not ,as well as possible solutions to overcome such difficulties. The course also includes a practical component to enable students develop their skills in planning and organizing capacity development interventions that are appropriate to the context and actors involved.	forth class	View
Consultancy Skills	This course focuses on providing basic knowledge and information about the consultancy, role of the consultant in the development project, characteristics of the consultant that clients seek, reputation of the consultant as the most important way of consultancy services promotion and open questions that could hinder successful consultancy process. The course outlines insight into basic skills necessary to complete the consultancy process. In order to avoid usual traps in the relationship consultant-client, students will be introduced with the consultancy pyramid that ensures satisfied clients and good reputation for the consultants. The course is designed with respect to special needs and problems of development project and implementing agencies. Moreover, students will discuss consulting lessons learned and problems; and end with consulting “Best Practices”.	forth class	View
Results-based project management: Case studies	This course aims at shifting from a focus on the inputs and activities to a focus on the outputs, outcomes, and impact. Results are the changes that can be described and measured and it’s the consequence of a cause-effect relationship. They imply that changes in behaviors, by individuals, groups of people, organizations, government bodies or society, have taken place. This course takes the concepts of RBM and applies it directly to the project management environment, using all the processes and methods that will help development projects achieve the desired results. It is designed for people that have a responsibility to manage or contribute to the results of a project; especially project managers, team members, and program directors.	forth class	View
Information System and Project Management	This course provides students with a comprehensive introduction to project management in an information technology / information systems context. It will explain the need for project management and the issues associated with managing projects in the IS/IT context. It will explain the key phases of the project management cycle and describe the various tools and methods used in each of those phases. The course will consider both theoretical and practical perspectives and equip you with the necessary skills to be able to better manage or participate in projects. The course assumes no prior experience in project management, but does assume that you are familiar with the systems development lifecycle and have a good understanding of the processes involved in the development of information systems.	forth class	View
Project Design, Monitoring and Evaluation	This course provides students with tools, techniques and resources needed for designing, planning, organizing, monitoring and evaluating projects or programs or. Therefore, this course presents the principles of Design, Monitoring an Evaluation (DM&E) Cycle. DM&E is a critical element of the projects or programs , as it provides the information needed to make decisions for project management to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the interventions and satisfy accountability requirements. This course will help the students in understanding the most common processes, tools, techniques, and theories that are necessary to monitor and evaluate a project or program. Through case studies and group discussions, participants will learn the links between design, monitoring and project or program evaluation.	forth class	View

Master's Degree

Planning and Development

(classroom system)

Program Grade

Masters-Academic

Links & Attachements

Academic master's brochure

Master’s Degree: Planning and Development (classroom system)