by Iffat Ara Sharmeen,
December 12, 2024
After the success of last year’s Summer School, Friendship Academy launched the second iteration; the month-long Winter School on Development with the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka and a fresh batch of 45 development professionals.
Dhaka University, The inaugural ceremony held at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university on 29 November. Classes will be conducted by seasoned development experts from across the globe until 21 December. This programme aims to equip early-career development professionals and enthusiasts with expertise, knowledge, and opportunities to explore real-world development challenges.
The ceremony began with welcome remarks from Friendship senior director and head of Education, Brig. Gen. (retd.) Ilyas Iftekhar Rasul, followed by an introduction to the purpose and structure of the course led by Dr. Kazi Maruful Islam, professor of Governance and Politics, Department of Development Studies at the University of Dhaka. Friendship founder Runa Khan graced the launch event with her presence, sharing a brief speech on the interconnectedness of NGOs and academia. The session was chaired by M. Abu Eusuf , professor at the Department of Development Studies.
Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, vice chancellor at the University of Dhaka attended as the Chief Guest. He took an insightful session on ‘GO-NGO Collaboration: The Models’, officially marking the beginning of the Winter School classes. The session was engaging and thought-provoking, providing participants with a thorough understanding of collaborative frameworks between governments and NGOs. Attendees praised the experience, noting the practical insights and valuable exchange of ideas.
Faculty members of the Winter School from Friendship Academy include Friendship founder Runa Khan, brig. gen. (retd.) Ilyas Iftekhar Rasul, senior director and Head of Education at Friendship; barrister Ayesha Taasin Khan, senior director and head of Inclusive Citizenship at Friendship; Marc Elvinger, Friendship Luxembourg chair and co-chair of Friendship International; Stephane Van Haute from Friendship Luxembourg, and Dr. Kazi Golam Rasul, senior director and head of Health at Friendship. These experts will share their findings and field experiences in pioneering initiatives and building sustainable partnerships that empower marginalised communities.
Apart from faculty members from the University of Dhaka’s Department of Development Studies, several experts from other organisations will also offer valuable learning sessions to the students, including CARE Bangladesh, Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Swisscontact, Visual Communication Ltd., Danish Refugee Council, Centre for Climate Justice Bangladesh, World Vision Bangladesh, and Nutrition International. To ensure a more international approach to the course, Gael Mainguy, deputy managing director at the Learning Planet Institute (LPI) France will also be a key faculty member. His work has progressively focused on brain development, open and interdisciplinary scientific practices, systemic analysis of sustainability challenges, and the transformation of educational systems.
The 4-week course will cover practical knowledge and theoretical concepts in areas such as entrepreneurship in development, managing development projects, development theories, advocacy and community engagement, gender perspectives, displacement, Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL), communication, sustainability, climate resilience, social innovation, and health issues. Students will also gain hands-on experience through a field visit in Gaibandha and exploration of several case studies to better empathise with marginalised and climate-impacted communities. Classes will be held on the weekends to accommodate the busy schedules of the course participants.
