At the LSE, Laura teaches on two MSc. courses: African Development (DV418) and Development: History, Theory and Policy (DV400). 

She also supervises two brilliant PhD students, Tine Hanine El-Kadi (working on Chinese investment in the tech sector of North Africa) and Javiera Cáceres Bustamante (working on how countries are adapting their intellectual property laws in response to Artificial Intelligence).

If you are interested in applying for a PhD at the International Development department and would like to discuss potential supervision with Laura, please get in touch with a 2 page research proposal in the autumn period. 

Beyond LSE, Laura has given guest lectures at IT for Change in India and the Rift Valley Institute in Uganda/Sudan. Before coming to LSE, she previously taught at Leiden University, the University of Oxford and Edinburgh University. You can find full details of her teaching experience in her CV.  In July, 2024, she will be participating in a summer school at Zhejiang University in China.

For more information about her LSE courses and some recent feedback from students, see below. 

African Development (DV418)

Taking the work of the late Thandika Mkandawire as its inspiration and foundation, DV418: African Development applies a critical political economy approach to questions of economic and social development in African countries. It is one of the two core courses for the African Development specialism, following on DV435 African Political Economy in the MT. The two courses are designed to complement each other although some students choose to take DV418 as an option and DV435 is therefore not a requirement.

At its foundation, DV418 engages with the challenge of structural transformation (rather than just economic growth) and on tracing inter-connections between local, domestic and international forces shaping African countries’ developmental prospects. In particular, it focuses on the role that knowledge and technology play in development, and how power shapes who benefits from that knowledge.

For more information about the late Thandika Mkandawire, you can visit his LSE ID profile, which lists a bibliography of his work and a collection of his key contributions here. 

You can read some of the student feedback from the 2023/4 cohort down below. 

Development: History, Theory & Policy (DV400)

This course explores the major trends of development and change in modern history, their interpretations in the social sciences and their bearing on the policy and practice of development. 

During Autumn Term the course critically discusses concepts of 'development' and the historical evolution of paradigms of development thinking and policy. With reference to comparative historical experience, we explore the role of states and markets in development and/underdevelopment, colonial legacies and path dependencies, and developmental states in comparative perspective. We examine the impact of pro-market reforms, globalisation and financialisation, as well the role of non-governmental organisations, social movements and challenges to the reigning development paradigm. 

During Winter Term the course draws on recent research and theoretical debates to discuss current cutting edge policy issues and challenges in the developing world including: old and new forms of development aid, transformative social policy, agrarian change, industrialisation and digital technologies, environmental crisis, state fragility and conflict,   and challenges to development thinking and practice presented by feminist theory and an engagement with the humanities.

This course is co-taught by Professor James Putzel, Professor David Lewis, Professor Kate Meagher and Dr. Laura Mann. We also have guest lectures from Professor Naila Kabeer. 

Some Recent Student feedback (2023/4)

"Laura is the best teacher I've had at LSE. She can explain complex ideas well. She is happy to explain things repeatedly if people don't understand. She is approachable and gets that we are in the process of learning. I feel comfortable to ask any questions in this class. People aren't trying to show off in seminar, but are instead trying to learn - Seminars follow the interests and questions of the students.""I really appreciate Laura's teaching style - she really encouraged us to think critically, and engaged deeply with our thoughts/ questions/ideas. I feel like i learnt so much from this course, and that was a direct result of Laura. I also really enjoyed the guest lectures and the concerted effort that was made to integrate a diversity of African voices into the course. Thanks for taking the time to get to know us too Laura, it was much appreciated!""Laura is an amazing scholar but also an amazing professor. she is engaging, makes an effort to make her classes memorable and interactive. her slides are awesome and seminars are all but boring. Really hard to find an acedemic with so much relevant research that also happens to enjoy teaching and is really good at it.""Laura is excellent!! I enjoyed her teaching pretty much. She is not only a good scholar with deep insights into African development, but also a good teacher who can really explain things clearly." "Dr. Mann's lectures were always engaging and the topics of the course were very good. I appreciated how Dr.Mann took time in the beginning of the seminars to ask if we needed clarification on topics from the readings or the lectures. The game show weeks were always very engaging and fun.""Laura's classes are always varied in structure but are able to very effectively capture and communicate key concepts and learning points. The game shows are particularly appreciated as they are a fun teaching pedagogical tool, yet are highly effective in pushing us to think through the theory and enunciate it in a way which is understandable and coherent.""Laura's way of convening a seminar were really stimulating and i got to a higher level of understanding thorugh the seminars. The gameshows as a part of the seminars are also a really good way to get students to argument and make points." "Laura clearly communicates ideas and concepts in a way that can be understood, and repeatedly demonstrates genuine expertise in understanding these." "Laura was a truly excellent teacher. Not only was she very knowledgeable about the course content, and able to explain things in a clear way that tied to concepts across the course, she also comes across as a very engaged teacher who cares a lot about her students. I think she went above and beyond in terms of making the seminars interesting and engaging, encouraging us to attend relevant events and things outside of class. I feel she also is attuned and empathetic, facilitating a good learning environment."
"Laura was really good at drawing together concepts and themes from throughout the course and taking time to explain key concepts and show their relevance and importance. A standout thing was the gameshows. Although they just sound like fun, I think they are actually a great learning tool, stimulating thinking and debate, and linking different concepts.""Pr. Mann is not only a very good lecturer, but also an excellent seminar leader. I was looking forward to taking part in the gameshows, which are the best way to apply the knowledge gained from the readings and lectures.""Professor Mann went above and beyond in terms of her preparation and delivery of DV418. Her lectures were always well prepared and she allowed students to ask clarification questions. Preparing creative and interactive games and activities for the seminar, went above any other professor that I've had at the LSE. It enhanced everyone's learning and acted as complimentary to the lecture, as a seminar should. If I were a professor, I would take a note from Laura's book on how to organize the seminar. I also appreciated Laura's willingness to invite guest lecturers/experts on specific topic areas.""She always gave students very detailed and constructive feedback both for personal formative essays and group podcast proposals. It really helps us to narrow down our main points towards the right direction." "Laura is very kind and encourages any questions, and doesn't make you feel dumb for having questions. She also makes herself available via email and office hours."