The Centre for Sustainable International Development: what it is and what it does

Hilary Homans

18th May 2011

Overview

• Overview of CSID• Overview of international student situation at

the University of Aberdeen• Discussion on how internationalisation

complements sustainable international development? And vice versa?

Sustainable development

Economic, social and environment process are inter-connected

Rio Summit on Environment and Development, 1992

Need to place people at the centre of development

Why the Centre was established

The University of Aberdeen • is committed to internationalisation & the twin principles

of sustainability and social responsibility (Strategic Plan 2009 to 2010)

• needs to demonstrate societal impact at an individual, institutional, national and global level through the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

• has recognised the need:– to coordinate work on sustainable international

development across the University– for an inter-disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach -

future long term reseach needs to work across disciplines & sectors to maximise impact

Vision

The Centre’s vision is to make a significant contribution to the sustainable achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other international development targets.

Guiding principles (1)

1. Commitment to equity and social inclusion and the promotion of equality of access to sustainable development for all citizens with special attention to socially excluded persons.

2. Enhancement of human dignity and protection of the human rights of all persons.

Guiding principles (2)

3. Interdisciplinary evidence-informed, needs based and results-oriented research, monitoring and evaluation contributing to policy and sustainable development.

4. Multi-sectoral age, gender and diversity-sensitive innovative approaches, involving partners at all levels within public, private and non-profit sectors.

5. Consistent with the UK DFID international development stratey, the RCUK research priorities and other relevant strategies and internationally adopted commitments.

Strategic directions• Maintain a data base of expertise and research programmes

within the University• Build strategic partnerships within:

– the University– local community – Cafe International seminars– Scotland– United Kingdom– Global environment to foster north-south and south-south partnerships and collaboration

for sustainable international development based on countries’ needs

• Build capacity of staff, students and partners • Leverage funding for University work on sustainable

international development• Communicate and disseminate information about the work of

the Centre

Who is doing what?

Data base

Posters of work

1 1

111

1

1

1

1

1

2

71 2

11

1

2

9

1

2

4

5

1

4

2

612

11

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

1

1

1

4

2

5

211

11

2

4

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

1 1

1

4

1

1

Research by Millennium Development Goals

Number of projects by college - CASS Total

Number of projects by college - CLSM Total

Number of projects by college - COPS Total

Largest numbers of overseas students at UoA by country, 2007 to 2011

China India Kuwait Malaysia Nigeria USA0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 Total

Students from least developed countries at UoA, 2007 to 2011

Bangla

desh

Burkina F

aso

Cambodia

Congo D

RC

Ethiopia

Gambia

Malawi

Maurit

ania

Nepal

Niger

Rwanda

Sudan

Uganda

UR Tanzan

ia

Yemen

Zambia

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Total over 4 years

Students from low income countries at UoA, 2007 to 2011

Ghana Kenya Zimbabwe0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

10092

48

29

Total over 4 years

Partnerships

Partnerships• Partnerships are critical to internationalisation

and international development.• Many examples of partnerships between

universities in the UK and developing country universities.

• E.g. the DELPHE programme on transforming land policy in Ghana where universities provided the academic component and a civil society organisation developed a community based programme on the use of land.

Partnerships

• UoA good example is the role of universities in addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Aberdeen has been at the forefront of this through its work on improving maternal health and improving water safety in developing countries.

CSID partnerships

Staff Associates

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sustainable-international-development/people/associates/

© Giacomo Pirozzi (Panos Pictures)

Aberdeen Centre for Environmental SustainabilityCentre for Citizenship, Civil Society and the Rule of LawCentre for Energy LawCentre for Gender StudiesInitiative for Maternal Mortality Programme AssessmentWorld Energy Cities Partnership

Local partnerships

• Partnerships with local NGOs– Aberdeen Foyer (Tanzania)– Arrow (Kenya)– Kids Action (Sierra Leone)– MedicAid (Sierra Leona)– Rotary clubs– Tillydrone Vision (Uganda)– Zoe Lee Foundation (South

Africa)Robin Waugh, Uganda

• Support from the Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations

Scottish partnerships

• Development Studies Association, Scotland• Network of International Development

Organisations in Scotland (NIDOS)• Rwanda Scotland Alliance• Scottish Malawi Partnership• Scottish Executive

Impact and skills development

Strong partnerships:• Are based on countries needs• Involve shared learning • Ensure that research is embedded into policy

and practice• Demonstrate commitment to impact• May involve academic staff learning new skills

in advocacy and communication

Build capacity

Cross college seminars

• Fourteen seminars over 10 months on topics such as, civil society engagement, education, environmental protection, ethics, global climate change, impact of research, land reform, poverty, substance use, water

• Seven visiting speakers– Overseas: Rwanda, Zimbabwe (3)– UK: Aberdeen, Manchester, London

Build capacity

• 6th Century course – global citizenship, culture, equality and diversity

• Working groups to strengthen research linkages– Nigeria– Ghana– India– Bangladesh– Nepal

Volunteers• http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sustainable-internationa

l-development/people/volunteers-/• Trained:

to become tutorsin presentation skillsin poster development

• Established Facebook page• Working with local NGOs and community• Networking with students• ? Establish International Development Association

UoA Strategic Plan 2011 to 2015

“We will embed a culture of internationalisation across our activities and in so doing enhance our reputation as a global university.” Targets4.1 establish 10 new international strategic partnership

arrangements with institutions in priority regions4.2 establish three partnerships with countries or

regions leading to joint institutes, the first of these to be a Confucius institute

Internationalisation targets continued

4.3 enable 1,200 of our students to have an overseas experience during their time at Aberdeen

4.4 increase the number of international students to 2,360

4.5 improve our position in international league tables particularly in relation to the proportion of international students and international staff

Future

• Vice Principal for internationalisation just appointed

• Internationalisation strategy to be developed• How can internationalisation complement

sustainable international development? And vice versa?