STA5010W - Operational Research In Development Coursework
90 credits at NQF level 9
Entry Requirements:
Entry to the course requires a good Honours degree including a strong quantitative component (normally at least two years of Mathematics at a tertiary level). In selecting candidates for admission to the course, consideration will also be given to recommendations from at least two referees who are able to attest to the applicants’ academic abilities and suitability.
Course Outline:
The aim of this one year course is to provide a broad professional training in the principles and tools of operational research (OR), with particular emphasis on application in the context of development and the developing world. OR has been defined as the discipline of applying advanced analytical methods (system analysis, and computer and mathematical models) to help make better decisions. The OR in Development programme focuses on preparing graduates for a career in applying OR to the unique problems of the developing world, such as conflicting objectives in balancing, for example, socio-economic development and corrective actions, less reliable infrastructures, and a post-colonial need for community participation in all levels of planning. The first academic year is based primarily on coursework, supplemented by group discussions and case studies. The coursework includes the basic techniques of operational research and statistics, specific developmental issues, problem structuring and decision analysis.