World’s first doctoral college for international development

26 Nov 2015

The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College is first philanthropically-funded doctoral college in the UK

The University today launches The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College – the first of its kind for international development.

The doctoral college, the only one in the world to focus on postgraduate research of international development, will provide opportunities for up to 100 early career researchers and bolster the University’s commitment to addressing global inequalities and making a difference to the lives of people living in poverty.

The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College is also the first philanthropically-funded doctoral college in the UK. It is made possible by the generous and ongoing support to the University from the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation. 

The College will be a central part of the recently announced Global Development Institute, which will launch next year, uniting the strengths of the existing Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM) and the Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI). The Global Development Institute will be the largest provider of development research and postgraduate education in Europe. 

Rory Brooks CBE said: “We are really excited about the potential for this new doctoral college as we have seen first-hand over many years of involvement with the BWPI, the energy, intellect and passion of young researchers. If they are able, through this college, to channel their efforts more effectively to create greater impact on the big issues we face in international development and make a tangible difference, we will hopefully be able to make a lasting contribution. “ 

Professor Philip Woodhouse, Director of the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College, said: “Grappling with some of the world’s biggest problems is a vital part of our work at The University of Manchester and within the Global Development Institute.  Creating the world’s first doctoral college for international development marks an exciting time for early career researchers at Manchester and for the University’s ambition to tackle global inequalities.”

The Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Doctoral College will provide PhD students researching international development with the opportunity to become part of a multidisciplinary team of students and established academics, encouraging innovation and collaboration through rigorous research and teaching. Broader engagement and bespoke support will help ensure that PhD students understand the bigger picture and potential for their work, supporting them to become the next generation of researchers, leaders and policy makers in this important field of work.