Institute of Development Studies

This article is about the institute in England. For the institute in Kolkata, India, see Institute of Development Studies, Kolkata.
Institute of Development Studies
Abbreviation IDS
Founded 1966
Type Research institute
Location
Director
Melissa Leach
Slogan Global Knowledge for Global Change
Website www.ids.ac.uk

The Institute of Development Studies is an international development research institute. IDS acts to influence policy makers through research, by working with partner organisations in developing countries, and communicating with international policy makers. IDS is based at the University of Sussex.

The institute is home to approximately 100 researchers, 70 knowledge services staff, 65 professional staff and about 200 students at any one time.[1] The partnership approach, which means IDS works with around 250 partners internationally, is designed to help enrich the research process, while at the same time building and enhancing the capacity of all the organisations involved.[2]

According to Hivos, IDS is committed to applying academic skills to real-world problems. IDS's purpose is to understand and explain the world, and to try to change it.[3]

History and leadership

IDS was founded in 1966 by economist Dudley Seers who was director from 1967 until 1972. From 1972 to 1981 Sir Richard Jolly was the director of IDS, and later authored A short history of IDS: a personal reflection. John Toye was Director of IDS from 1987-97.

The current director of IDS is Melissa Leach, a social anthropologist and professorial fellow at IDS, who succeeded Lawrence Haddad in 2014. Prior to her appointment she was Director of the STEPS Centre.[4] Leach's recent work has explored the politics of science and knowledge in policy processes linked to environment and health; cultural and political dimensions of vaccine delivery; medical research trials, emerging infectious diseases, and ecology-health linkages.[5]

Structure and research

IDS consists of twelve research clusters or teams which concentrate their research on specific angles of development:

IDS also hosts a range of knowledge services, which aim to ensure that research knowledge can be effectively used in developing countries. IDS hosts BRIDGE,[13] a research centre for gender in development, and Eldis,[14] which aims to provide a platform where up-to-date research can be shared and easily found by development practitioners. Data from Eldis is available from the Open API developed by IDS Knowledge Services.[15] The British Library of Development Studies[16] at IDS contains Europe's largest collection of publications from the global South.[17]

Funding

IDS is a registered charity.[18] The top five funders of IDS are:[19]

In 2013 IDS launched a scholarship fund which will fund MA courses.[20]

Teaching and post-graduate courses

IDS has engaged in teaching since 1973 when the first MPhil course in development began.[21] Currently it teaches at postgraduate and doctorate level and has been awarded accreditation for its teaching programme by the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). In 2012 IDS was rated the UK's best university-affiliated think tank in the Global Go To Think Tank Report 2012 [22] and the third-best globally.

There are seven MA courses run by IDS:[23]

Notable academics

Current academics

Sir Richard Jolly, a development economist who has held various positions within the UNDP and OECD, and was awarded honorary fellowship from The International Institute of Social Studies in 2007.

Robert Chambers, who has contribution to development for his work in participatory rural appraisal, is widely acknowledged.[24]

Ian Scoones is director of the STEPS Centre and is well known for his research into land reform in Zimbabwe.[25]

Stephen Devereux is the author of Theories of Famine.[26]

Mick Moore, head of the International Centre for Tax and Development

Ben Ramalingam, author of Aid on the Edge of Chaos

Past academics

See also

References

  1. "About us: Institute of Development Studies (IDS)". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  2. "Civil Society Resources on Internet". Centroedelstein.org.br. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  3. JosineS. "IDS / About / Civic Explorations / Themes / Hivos Knowledge Programme / Home - Ontwikkelingsorganisatie Hivos". Hivos.net. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  4. "Professor Melissa Leach to assume leadership of the Institute of Development Studies, UK". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  5. "Melissa Leach". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  6. "Business, Markets and the State". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  7. "Cities". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  8. "Conflict and Violence". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. "Digital and Technology". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  10. "Gender and Sexuality". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  11. "Governance". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  12. "Rural Futures". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  13. "BRIDGE - Gender and development research and information service supporting change for dignity, justice and equality". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  14. Eldis
  15. "IDS Knowledge Services API". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  16. "BLDS: Europe's largest research collection on economic and social change". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  17. "BLDS: About Us". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  18. registered charity
  19. "Governance and funding". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  20. Institute of Development Studies (Brighton) (2013-05-01). "Africa: IDS to Host Alumni Event to Mark the Launch of a New Scholarship Fund". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  21. "A Short History of IDS: A Personal Reflection". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  22. Archived March 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  23. "University of Sussex, Institute of Development Studies Masters Degrees". Findamasters.com. 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  24. Anna Colom. "How to … avoid pitfalls in participatory development | Global Development Professionals Network". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  25. Ian Scoones and Blasio Mavedzenge. "Don't condemn Zimbabwe | Ian Scoones and Blasio Mavedzenge | Comment is free". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  26. Devereux, Stephen (3 April 1994). "Theories of Famine". Harvester Wheatsheaf. Retrieved 21 August 2016 via Google Books.
  27. "Naila Kabeer". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  28. "Simon Maxwell - Overseas Development Institute (ODI)". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  29. Peter Newell
  30. Neil McCulloch. "It's time to take the Tobin tax seriously | Neil McCulloch | Global development". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  31. "Chris Stevens - Overseas Development Institute (ODI)". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  32. "Profile - Experts - Research and expertise - Home". Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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