Development Studies Immersion Program (DSIP)

ACICIS’ Development Studies Immersion Program (DSIP) is a semester-long community development study program hosted by Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This program allows participants to gain valuable ‘hands-on’ experience in the field of international development through frontline community development projects.

The DSIP offers students the opportunity to undertake either an eight-week community development fieldwork module known as ‘Student Community Service (SCS)’, or an eight-week professional development placement with a local community-based organisation, as part of their semester in Yogyakarta.

Student Community Service (SCS) is a two-month module designed and managed in partnership with UGM’s Institute for Research and Community Services (LPPM) which sees students living and working in rural locations around the Yogyakarta area while designing and working on grassroots, community development projects.

The DSIP Development Placement is a two-month professional placement conducted in partnership with local NGOs, community-based organisations and government agencies in Yogyakarta. The Development Placement offers students the chance to apply theoretical development knowledge in real life professional contexts while fostering important practical skills in advocacy, public relations, administration, research, and monitoring and evaluation.

The DSIP has been designed for students with no existing Indonesian language skills; however, students with existing language skills are welcome to participate.

My experience in Indonesia has enlightened my thinking on development, and is now guiding the decisions I am making for my future career.ACICIS Past Participant

Structure

The DSIP runs in two intakes each year: from August to December, and from February to June. The structure of the semester-long program is as follows:

• Six weeks of Indonesian language classes and coursework at Gadjah Mada University (UGM). Classes are scheduled from Monday-Thursday, between 9am and 4pm;

Concurrent with:

• A seminar series on contemporary development issues in Indonesia facilitated by local practitioners and experts in the field of development studies;

Followed by:

• Eight weeks of either a Student Community Service (SCS) project or a DSIP Development Placement.