Community Development

Community development is the practice of working with communities to identify their needs, build collective capacity, and take collective action to improve the conditions in which people live. It is a professional field with a long history in the voluntary and public sectors, rooted in values of participation, social justice, and the belief that people are best placed to understand and address the challenges they face when properly supported to do so. Community development workers facilitate processes of organising, advocacy, and collaborative learning, helping communities to develop their own voice and agency rather than simply receiving services provided by others.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year, full-time programme is specifically designed for people who are already working in community development, either in paid employment or as volunteers. It is structured around approximately a day and a half per week of attendance, making it accessible to those who cannot study full-time. Work-based learning, reflective practice, and subject studies are woven together throughout the programme, meaning that your professional experience is both a context for learning and a source of knowledge that informs the academic work.

You will study the theory and practice of community development, the policy context in which community organisations operate, and the social and political dimensions of participation and empowerment.

Graduates of community development programmes work in local authorities, charities, housing associations, health boards, faith organisations, and community enterprises in roles that support collective action, social enterprise, and community learning. Many become community development workers, project coordinators, neighbourhood development officers, or community engagement specialists. The programme is also a route to professional recognition in community development, and many graduates go on to postgraduate study in community development, social work, or public policy to develop their expertise further.