Micro-credit and Risk Management in Development PG (8768.4)

This unit introduces the students to a wide range of micro-credit and microfinance concepts, strategies and practices, in rural and urban contexts. Micro-credit has developed into a worldwide movement, as a tool for eradicating poverty. Governments and development organisations are increasingly involved in various academic, scholarly and practical endeavours dealing with micro-credit as a tool to achieve Millennium Development Goals.This unit examines the role of microfinance as a poverty reduction strategy. It explores the role of microfinance institutions and identifies techniques for assuring its viability and sustainability. The unit will look at risks that microfinance clients might face and identify techniques that protect against risks and reduce vulnerability. This unit equips students, who will be working as development planners and practitioners, for planning, managing and providing technical advice to microfinance institutions.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of micro-credit and the relationship between micro-finance and international development in the current context;
2. Understand the role of micro-credit in alleviating poverty and the impact of micro-finance and micro-enterprise on household and community well-being;
3. Understand the decision rules of a rural finance system (adopted by Grameen Bank);
4. Understand major approaches of finance delivery mechanisms, and identify ways to ensure the sustainability of microfinance institutions;
5. Identify the risks associated with micro-finance activities and design strategies that help in mitigating risk and coping with loss; and
6. Demonstrate the skills required to articulate and present critique appropriate for studies at post-graduate level.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Skills development

The unit is designed to assist in the development of generic skills and attributes of the University of Canberra graduates especially in relation to communication, analysis and inquiry, problem solving, and working independently and with others. For further details check the following web page:

http://www.canberra.edu.au/uclearning/learning-support/uc-graduate-attributes

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None

Equivalent units

None

Assumed knowledge

Familiarity with basic concepts in International Development.