Careers in global development education: What you need to know

Much progress has been made in the field of global education since the launch of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000. Literacy rates in developing countries are rising steadily for both adults and youth, and in primary education, in particular, enrollment is at 91 percent while gender parity has also almost been achieved. Despite these advances, however, there is still much work to be done. More than 100 million young people — 60 percent of whom are women — still lack basic literacy skills, and 57 million children — more than half of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa — remain unenrolled. Moreover, the proportion of out of school children in areas devastated by armed conflict and other emergencies is increasing. And while the enrollment numbers might be going up globally, these do not necessarily translate into students’ mastery of the knowledge and life skills needed for success. As a result, the era of the Sustainable Development Goals has put a renewed focus on education quality, instead of mere access. The field of global education is quite broad, composed of several stakeholders all dedicated to developing effective and sustainable education systems in the poorest and most vulnerable countries. The sector employs a wide range of development professionals — from teachers and educators to policy analysts, researchers and information technology experts — to work in various capacities for government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, consulting firms, multilateral and bilateral donors, universities and think tanks. Given the diversity of the sector, it’s no surprise that global education work interests and attracts an equally diverse set of global development professionals. Are you one of them? Devex talked to a couple of experts to outline some fundamental tips for breaking into the field. Diverse specializations “There are many career paths available to people who want to work on education issues in global development,” Shannon Bruder, director of business and proposal development at the Institute of International Education, told Devex. One way of looking at the prism of global education is through specialties, such as basic, secondary, or higher education, girls’ education, literacy, workforce development, education in emergencies, and education and technology. Those interested in responding to global education needs can do so in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, working in policy and systems reform, teacher training, curriculum development, education finance, education quality assessment, community and parent engagement, information and communication technology, advocacy, and education research. Because of the growing number of conflicts and protracted crises worldwide, recruiters are also actively hiring for positions in emergency education — which involves helping the most vulnerable populations in post-disaster and post-conflict settings get access to quality education. “If you want to work on emergency education issues, you have to be willing to go and live and work in emergency situations — these situations are often stressful and very fluid and you have to have the personality and work style to go with it,” Farah Mahesri, a senior education specialist at Worldreader, told Devex. Ideally, practitioners will eventually focus on an area of specialization, but some recruiters believe that those just breaking into the global education scene would do well to diversify their professional portfolios, to see global education through different lenses. The right background The kind of background needed to land a job in global education hinges largely on the particular role or subsector you’re eyeing. “A broad range of degrees can lead to a career in international development and global education, depending on the experiences that students pursue in their undergraduate and graduate careers,” Angel Woodcock, recruitment manager at IIE, told Devex. Degrees in education administration, international and comparative education, international relations, government, public administration, and regional and language studies are all good starting points for a career in this field. Professionals should typically also complete an M.A. to advance in global education while higher-level advisory positions will almost always require an Ed.D. or Ph.D. According to Mahesri, previous experience in international education contexts is another prerequisite to landing a good job in this area. “If you want to work in international development, having some in-classroom experience is critical,” she said. “That ability to work with teachers and policymakers and understand what they are facing because you have also worked in the classroom is important.” Students and aspiring education specialists can gain field experience by volunteering to teach English abroad, or through a variety of exchange programs and activities. Seizing opportunities to study or volunteer overseas will help you see the bigger picture regarding international education issues and trends while building up your resume. “If there’s an organization where you would like to work, be willing to intern, volunteer or take an entry level administrative job to get your foot in the door and prove yourself,” said IIE’s Bruder. As it is, resourcefulness and persistence can get you quite far in the field of global education. “The most important piece of advice I ever got was to find a place I wanted to work and go,” Rena Deitz, an education specialist at the International Rescue Committee, told Devex. “Whether or not you have a job lined up, find a way to get to the place you want to work and make the connections you need in order to find a job. Experience in the field is the most vital for success in international education.” Soft skills For Mahesri, the most important soft skills needed for a successful career in global education are cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication skills. Those working in this field need to understand that knowledge transfer is a two-way street, and that learning does not only flow from the “global north” to the “global south.” “Anyone entering this field needs to understand how to check both their privilege and prejudice and needs to be willing to work with global colleagues with respect and admiration, not condescension,” she said. “Always, always respect the talent and the experience of your co-workers.” Global education is not a sector for instantaneous impact or results, and often, the real difference your work makes might only be seen in fifteen or more years — as your first graders move on to college or begin to earn a living. Because of this, working in the field necessitates a real, innate interest and entails keeping up with the latest research and trends through decades. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Technology and the future Global education professionals say there is no denying that technology has dramatically changed the education landscape and helped scale the impact of their work. But practitioners need to remember that technology is a tool — not an end in itself. “Technology does not replace the need for solid training, for good community engagement, for participatory approaches, and do no harm principles,” said Mahesri. But as it is, technology has already made a huge difference opening up access to education, driving costs down and measuring the impact of education programs. Used appropriately, it also has the potential to make a real dent in the issues around inequality and inequity in the quality of education, according to Mahesri. Deitz explained that telecommunications advances, in particular, have enabled teams to work much more remotely now. “In my job, I work with people in Nigeria, Lebanon, London, Geneva, Washington, D.C., California, and Massachusetts almost every day while based out of IRC’s New York headquarters,” she said. While the demand for ICT experts in the global education sector is expected to grow, it is imperative that these technical professionals also have a firm grasp of the evolving issues and trends surrounding international education. “Make sure you really know the education side first so that you can make sure that the technology is really what’s appropriate and right for the students or teachers you are trying to reach,” Mahesri said. “Always remember that you are part of the greater system. This means you have to also think about local employment, or at least not putting others out of business. This also means looking for opportunities to develop your software and hardware solutions in the country.” Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search — all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.