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.

Structure

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

A semester of academic classes and coursework (approximately 630-750 hours in total) at Parahyangan University. Classes can be scheduled anytime between 07:00 to 18:00 Monday-Friday, and 07:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays;

OR

• A semester of academic classes and coursework (approximately 510 hours in total) at Parahyangan University. Classes can be scheduled anytime between 07:00 to 18:00 Monday-Friday, and 07:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays;
  Concurrent with;
• Two days per week professional placement – provided the placement host organisation is located in Bandung or surrounds (approximately 200 hours).

OR

• A semester of academic classes and coursework (approximately 510 hours in total) at Parahyangan University. Classes can be scheduled anytime between 07:00 to 18:00 Monday-Friday, and 07:00 to 12:00 on Saturdays;
  Followed by
• A five-week ‘block’ professional placement at a host organisation outside of Bandung (approximately 200 hours). (ONLY available in January-June semester)

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

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.