MSc Social Development Practice

The SDP 2025–26 cohort has just returned from an incredibly fulfilling overseas practice engagement (OPE) in Chiang Mai, Thailand 🇹🇭

Hosted by the wonderful School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University, the programme ran from 29 April to 9 May and brought together intensive fieldwork, critical reflection, and deep engagement with urban life.

This year’s overarching theme—urban inhabitation—explored the many ways people live, adapt, and negotiate space within the city. Working in six groups, students examined diverse themes including:

Housing and environmental linkages
The burden of spatial labelling
Resilient communities
Human–nature relationships
Tourism and urban transformation
Multiculturalism
The programme blended mixed-methods research—from (non)participant observation and walking interviews to formal interviews and visual methods—engaging a wide range of stakeholders: government officials, grassroots movements, spiritual leaders, street vendors, academics, business owners, professionals, and the wider public.

A key highlight was the interactive public exhibition, where research findings were shared and enriched through dialogue with local stakeholders. This participatory approach reflects SDP’s commitment to learning with communities, not just about them.

We are deeply grateful for the warmth, hospitality, and sustained support of CMU and their urban collaborators. Special thanks to the group buddies and facilitators, whose insight and guidance made this work truly meaningful.

Presentation titles included:

Housing and Riverbank Settlements along Mae Kha Canal
The Effects of Designating Chang Moi as a “Creative District”
The Multicultural Communities of Wat Gate, Chiang Mai
Human–Nature Co-existence: The Yang Na Corridor
Local Knowledge in a Changing World: Traditional Craftwork in Wua Lai
Sacred Spaces and Spirituality in Chiang Mai
An enriching experience of listening, learning, and reflecting on development practice—one that will stay with us well beyond the field.

Some reflections on the OPE practice - Reflections and Ethics workshop by Michael Walls at School of Public Policy Chiang Mai University The Bartlett Development Planning Unit UCL

Great start to our OPE 2026 in Chiang Mai, with School of Public Policy Chiang Mai University!

Plans are underway for the SDP Overseas Practice Engagement. This is the second year of working with our partners, at the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University. Grateful for the time and presence of Piyapong Boossabong and Pobsook Chamchong.from.CMU,.who spared valuable time during their UK visit to invigorate the planning along with students. As we embark on this wonderful collaboration with a committed batch of SDP students, we are also remembering our alumni fondly for the beautiful memories created through these pedagogic engagements.

Serious staff planning underway to prepare for the SDP Overseas Practice Engagement taking place at the School of Public Policy, Chiang Mai University (CMU) 😊. This is the second year of partnership with SPP and the theme is Urban Inhabitation. Grateful that our partners from CMU, Piyapong Boossabong and Pobsook Chamchong, spared valuable time during their UK visit to invigorate the planning along with students. As we embark on this wonderful collaboration with a committed batch of SDP students, we are also remembering our alumni fondly for the beautiful memories created through these pedagogic engagements.

Serious staff planning underway to prepare for the SDP Overseas Practice Engagement taking place at the School of Public Policy Chiang Mai University 😊. This is the second year of partnership with SPP and the theme is Urban Inhabitation. As we embark on this wonderful collaboration with a dedicated batch of SDP students, we are also remembering our alumni fondly for the beautiful memories created through these pedagogic engagements.

This week, in Social Policy and Citizenship module, led by , Dr Angelo Martins Junior (University of Birmingham) delivered a guest lecture titled: “Problematising Narratives of ‘the Migrant’: Criminals / Victims.” Dr Martins Junior is Associate Professor in Sociology & Criminology at Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology at University of Birmingham. He invited students to question who counts as a “migrant” and who counts as a “citizen,” and to reflect on how these categories are [re]shaped by the state, the media, and public discourse. The session explored how the figure of “the migrant” is racialised, gendered and classed and how inequalities are produced and normalised through legislation and everyday practices. He also discussed the politics of “Modern Slavery” by screening a co-produced video that challenges the framing of asylum seeker as either “criminals” or “victims.”

Yesterday in Social Policy and Citizenship at, led by Mahsa Alami Fariman, we welcomed Dr Angelo Martins Junior (University of Birmingham) for a guest lecture titled: “Problematising Narratives of ‘the Migrant’: Criminals / Victims.” Dr Martins Junior is Associate Professor in Sociology & Criminology at Department of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology at of Birmingham

He invited students to question who counts as a “migrant” and who counts as a “citizen,” and to reflect on how these categories are [re]shaped by the state, the media, and public discourse. The session explored how the figure of “the migrant” is racialised, gendered and classed and how inequalities are produced and normalised through legislation and everyday practices. He also discussed the politics of “Modern Slavery” by screening a co-produced video that challenges the framing of asylum seeker as either “criminals” or “victims.”