General Information

School of Development and Social Engineering

School of Development and Social Engineering (SDSE) is a Constituent School of Pokhara University, under its Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. It was formally established in 2009 (though some of its programs such as postgraduate programs existed earlier) to serve as a “Centre of Excellence” in higher education focusing on development and social engineering. The school aims to address social, economic, environmental and developmental challenges through interdisciplinary teaching, research, community engagement, and policy-relevant scholarship.

Focus, Approach & Strengths

  • Interdisciplinary &Applied: SDSE blends social sciences with development studies, law, communication, entrepreneurship, gender and population studies -giving students a broad and relevant skill set for real-world development challenges.
  • Field & Community-Oriented: Many courses emphasize community-based learning, field exposure, research, data analysis, policy interpretation -aiming for practical outcomes, not just academic theory.
  • Research & Scholarship Culture: The school publishes a biannual journal, Journal of Development and Social Engineering (JDSE), which features interdisciplinary research on development, social issues, environment, gender, policy, etc.
  • Collaborations & Networks: SDSE reportedly has cooperative agreements, student/faculty exchange links, and joint programs with national and international institutions- fostering research collaboration, academic mobility, and exposure.

Academic Programs Offered

SDSE offers both undergraduate (bachelor’s) and graduate (master’s) level programmes.

🎓 Undergraduate (Bachelor’s)

  • Bachelor of Development Studies (BDevS) ~ 39 seats
    • Focus: Development theory and practice, population studies, gender perspectives, governance, environment, social research, policy and planning, community-based learning.
  • Bachelor of English and Communication Studies (BECS) ~ 39 seats
    • Covers English language, literature, media studies, professional & strategic communication — preparing for roles in communication, media, development communication, NGOs, writing, content roles.
  • Bachelor of Entrepreneurship Development (BED) ~ 39 seats
    • Aims to build entrepreneurial and business skills; focuses on small/medium enterprises, social enterprise, business planning, start-ups, community-based enterprises.
  • Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Laws (B.A.LL.B.) ~ 33 seats (as per older listing) under SDSE.

🎓 Graduate (Master’s)

    • Master in Population, Gender and Development (MPGD) -30 seats
      • Focuses on demographic analysis, population dynamics, gender issues, development policy, research methods. This programme was originally initiated (as PGD → Master) in collaboration with national/international organizations to strengthen capacity in development teaching, training, and research.
    • Master of Development Studies (MDEVS) -30 seats, 2-year full-time course.
      • Covers broad aspects of development: theories, policy, planning, sustainable development, environment, globalization, social justice, gender, urban & rural development, disaster risk, research methods, etc.

Career & Student Outcomes

Graduates from SDSE have multiple pathways:

  • Careers in government agencies, NGOs/INGOs, development organizations, social enterprises, research institutions, consultancy, policy analysis, community work– especially in sectors like development, gender & population, social justice, sustainable development.
  • For entrepreneurship and business development, BED graduates can start their own business, contribute to small/micro enterprises, or work in private/ public sector enterprise development.
  • Option to go for higher studies (nationally or internationally), or research -especially via the strong research orientation and the school’s journal.