Training for the Industry: Examining the Use of Real-life Consultancy Projects in Development Studies Programmes

Development degrees have begun experimenting with real-life consultancy projects carried out by students for external clients in the development sector. Students, concerned about their ‘employability’, flock to these programmes due to their promises of hands-on, professionalizing experience. Surprisingly, these developments have not yet triggered a major reflection on what this teaching device means for the way our students are educated. I address this gap by critically examining their functioning, the different actors and their motivations and incentives. I argue that the introduction of development organizations into the teaching relationship challenges three core academic principles: scientificity, fairness and ethics. Drawing on my experience of managing a consultancy project module, I discuss the extent to which departments can address them.