Introduction
On the basis of last twelve years experiences compounded by internal and external evaluations, reviews, retreats and series of reflections IDSP has decided to carve its own path based on its own experiences. IDSP has intended to establish one of its identities by extending its outreach and academic processes. In this connection an university of community development will be established that will cater learning and livelihood needs of the excluded majority of Pakistani youth.
During the 12 years consecutive practices, IDSP has evolved its unique patterns of human resource development, that engage the disillusioned and excluded youth to become agent of social change and sustainable development. The 10 years courses Evaluation Report recommends to culminate the diverse practices of human resource development both in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. In this connection IDSP is going to devise an independent charter for University that will be essentially guided by the principal of inclusion of diverse groups and motivated individuals. The charter for IDSP’s university will be stemmed in its vision and core values. IDSP’s vision of demystifying the power structure, for changing it by developing a critical mass will form the pivot around which the whole structure of the University and its charter will be constructed.
The eligibility criterion, curricula, methodology, assessment process and a close link of theory and practice will all be guided by the principles and standards evolved by IDSP in its last twelve years experience. As the idea of seeking any affiliation with the existing universities runs the risk of transforming IDSP’s efforts into any other formal educational institution, therefore, IDSP will maintain its approach and methodology both in theory and practices.
IDSP will evolve courses for different audiences with relative standards and equivalence (with other formal educational institutes). The standards and approach will be guided by IDSP’s vision, philosophy, experiences and the idea of inclusion of the excluded majority. Unlike the mainstream educational institutions, the charter for IDSP university will seek a close link between the education imparted and the livelihood opportunities for the graduates. Similarly, efforts will be made to link and relate the theory taught in the courses to the practices to make it more practical.
University Charter Development Process:
Step 1: Packaging and Standardization of the courses:
Since inception IDSP has conducted diverse modalities of long and short term courses. The two categories of Development Studies (DS) that is 1)Community Development and 2) Gender Mainstreaming in Development have been practiced consistently. In order to initiate the process of charter development and its approval from the provincial assembly the two prominent courses 1)Community Development and 2) Gender Mainstreaming in Development will be packaged in standardized frameworks. The prospectus and calendar of courses will be published.
Step 2: Formation of Academic Council
Academic Council is one of the recommended body by the third party evaluation report (2009). The council is supposed to infuse new insights in the process of human resource development practices. Member of the council will cater the reckoned scholars, intellectuals and practitioners from the diverse areas of the country. This group will be identified through series of consultations. The refined courses will be shared in the consultations with the individuals. The TORs of the Academic Council will be developed through the process of consultations. After the identification and finalization of the members the council will meet first time for working out and approving the outline and significant points of the charter. The council will also discuss and propose the level of degrees that will be awarded through courses.
Step 3: Development of Charter for registration.
In the light of the academic council collective resolutions, the process of writing the charter will be started. A consultant will be selected through a competitive process. The draft of the charter will be shared that will be assessed by the council members. The charter will be finalized after incorporating the inputs.
Step 4: Advocacy for the resolution of charter.
Series of dialogues will be launched with the Members Provincial Assembly (MPA) for sharing the Charter. The focal persons from different political persons will be identified and taken on boarded through proper orientations. These focal persons will develop close coordination with the selected member of provincial assembly. A consultant in this context will be hired who will precede the process with the required logical sequence.
Step 5: Presentation of the Charter in the Provincial Assembly.
The charter will be launched in the scheduled meeting of the provincial assembly in the month July-August 2011. During presentation members of the academic council and IDSP trustees will be present.
