On completion of the Programme, the students will have developed:

• Expertise in planning and management of rural development programmes with focus on participatory development and innovation

• Competence in reorienting the development delivery systems for improved delivery of services

• Sensitivity to the issues of equity and gender

• Appreciation of the rights and entitlements of the rural poor and the socially disadvantaged groups

• Right attitudes and values necessary for rural development professionals

• Positive thinking and leadership qualities

• An understanding of the processes of skill building, productivity, quality and value addition

• An ability to build rural organisations and develop human resources amongst the rural poor

• Heightened interest in inter-sectoral coordination and collaboration, and forge public-public and public-private partnerships and networks

• Capabilities to tackle challenges to the rural poor

• Skill sets to better implement Rural Development Programmes of Government, NGOs and the CSR initiatives of the corporate sector