Sussex University’s Department of International Development has been a member of the DSA for six years. Professor Anne-Meike Fechter, Head of Department, discusses the unique qualities that set their program apart, and the department’s critical yet hopeful approach to global challenges.

International Development at Sussex has maintained a top QS ranking for eight years in a row. “It’s a continuous source of inspiration and motivation to keep up the good work,” says Professor Fechter. She stresses that the success is a result of “collaborative effort,” crediting the collective achievements of Sussex’s broader ecosystem in development studies. 

“It’s not just the Department for International Development, but it includes the contributions from IDS (Institute of Development Studies), SPRU (Science Policy Research Unit), the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme, and the Centre for International Education” she explains. Each of these units brings a unique angle to development, forming what she describes as a “comparative might”.

For students, the collective might of these different institutions at Sussex translates into a “wealth of opportunities” to engage in diverse forms of development, from practice to research, all within a vibrant academic community. The department hosts the Sussex Development Lecture Series, where prominent figures share insights on critical topics. “These elements together foster an environment where students and researchers alike benefit from a very active research culture,” Fechter shares.

In a field where most academic pathways begin at the graduate level, Sussex University stands out as one of a few institutions in the UK offering an undergraduate degree in International Development. 

 “We were actually the first institution in the UK to offer a BA in International Development,” says Professor Fechter. “The program’s interdisciplinary structure appeals to students eager to engage in meaningful global issues right from their undergraduate years. “You might wonder, ‘Why would a young person start with development as a bachelor’s degree?’ And I think part of the answer is that most of our degrees are joint honors. So, for example, students often combine International Development with anthropology, geography, international relations, economics, or sociology.”

According to Fechter, this joint approach is more than just a pairing of subjects; students benefit from being taught by specialists across these disciplines. “Development can sometimes be seen as a bit fuzzy,” she explains. “But our faculty members are firmly rooted in their primary disciplines, and we draw on their expertise to apply rigorous methods and approaches to development issues.” This fusion, as Fechter describes it, transforms the department into “the applied practice arm of anthropology, geography, and international relations,” offering students a unique combination of academic theory and practical application.

This structure has proven invaluable for students, equipping them with skills that make them highly employable. “Our graduates find careers in a wide range of social and professional fields, from local and national government roles to NGOs, large multilateral organizations, and even their own projects,” Fechter notes.

One of the international development programme’s core introductory modules, titled Colonialism and Its Afterlives, encourages students to examine development through a historical lens that includes difficult truths about colonialism’s legacy. According to Fechter, some students come to Sussex with clear aspirations for how they wish to work in development but initially felt disillusioned after realising how complex and problematic “Big D” Development can be. “We noticed students felt like they were back at square one, reflecting on questions like, ‘What is my place in the world, really?’”

This approach prompted the department to reframe its focus, adopting the term “critical hope” as the guiding principle for the curriculum and research. As Fechter explains, the concept of critical hope is about grappling with the knowledge of development’s colonial history and its embedded inequalities. This encourages students to explore what’s possible beyond traditional models. 

“For us, critical hope means being deeply aware of development’s problems but not getting mired in cynicism. Instead, we encourage our students to look at what people are doing differently, to explore how they might contribute in ethically responsible ways,” Fechter explains. This approach uniquely prepares students to tackle global challenges with both a critical understanding and an optimistic outlook.

Fechter believes that it’s the combination of “awareness of the past” and an insistence on “doing things differently in the present” that pushes students to confront difficult global histories while equipping them with the tools to make meaningful contributions. Students find avenues where they can intervene in policy and practice, from think tanks to fiscal studies and other policy spaces. “It’s encouraging to see students putting themselves into these spaces, where they can start making a difference—even if it’s in what might seem like a small way,” Fechter affirms.

A recent six-minute film created by Sussex students, titled Making Critical Hope Practical, captures how this shift in perspective is already impacting the department.

Though closely linked by proximity and partnership, the University of Sussex’s Department of International Development and the Institute of Development Studies operate with distinct missions, student audiences, and research foci. As a separate entity, IDS is registered as an independent charity, though it remains strongly affiliated with the University of Sussex. The Department of International Development at Sussex offers a wider range, teaching undergraduates through to PhD levels, while IDS operates within a specialised scope, teaching primarily master’s and PhD students. 

Despite their distinct roles, collaboration thrives between the two including joint efforts in both teaching and research, shared responsibilities in running the Sussex Development Lecture Series, and some faculty from IDS and the department collaborate on shared PhD supervisions and master’s programs, allowing students to benefit from expertise across both institutions.

Another key difference lies in research orientations. “Generally speaking, the Department of International Development tends to focus on projects with a longer-term academic horizon,” Fechter explains. Since the department submits research to academic bodies like the Research Excellence Framework (REF) panels, their studies often involve comprehensive, long-term analyses aimed at shaping the field’s broader academic landscape. Sussex’s department of international development also focuses on enduring contributions to development scholarship.  “We’re doing slightly different things,” Fechter concludes, “but our shared goals keep us close collaborators.”

“One of the key elements we prioritise at Sussex is creating a curriculum that inspires students to make a tangible impact in the world,” says Prof Fechter.  “We saw that [students] needed guidance to connect their passion for social change with realistic, impactful paths. It became important to us to instill a sense of ‘productive intervention’ in the world—something that feels real and attainable.”

To address this, the department introduced a module called Practitioner and Activist Skills alongside teachings on designing development alternatives. “We’ve built our curriculum to help students envision what’s possible, showing them where they might fit in the world to actually make a difference,” Fechter says. Throughout their studies, students explore various avenues for impactful engagement, whether as practitioners, researchers, or activists, learning to approach development with both hope and practical know-how. 

Some of Sussex’s recent research is notably reflexive research that digs deep into structural issues in development. But Sussex’s research does more than critique—it pushes the boundaries of the field with innovative projects. 

For example, research led by Paul Gilbert and Olivia Taylor on development contractors goes beyond tracing the increased role of private actors in development; it dives into bigger questions about the mechanisms and impacts of development finance as a whole. The team’s work examines global aid and resource flows, applying a quantitative approach to make these often-overlooked issues visible and accessible. 

Work on climate justice explores the concept of reparations—not just in theory but as a pressing, real-world imperative. These issues are essential in shifting from critique to constructive action and are about pushing past reflection into the realm of active solutions that address today’s most urgent global challenges.

A commitment to honesty and humility is also key to their research impact approach. “We’re well aware of our privilege as an institution and don’t pretend to have all the answers.” says Prof Fechter. “Instead, we start from a position of humility and seek to collaborate with others who are already working to create change elsewhere.”

At Sussex, this approach permeates both research and student engagement. The department encourages students to reflect critically on historical legacies and current dynamics while also supporting their initiatives to drive social impact. “A large proportion of our students are incredibly active—not just in volunteering, but in creating their own projects, their own NGOs. Whether that’s a migrant English project or disability support initiatives, whether in the UK or abroad, our students are doing incredible work.”

To find out more about International Development at Sussex, visit their website or follow them on twitter / X.