ACICIS Development Studies Immersion Program

ACICIS’ Development Studies Immersion Program (DSIP) is a semester-long community development option hosted by Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta. 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 by local students 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 working on grassroots, community development projects.

The DSIP Development Placement is a two-month professional placement 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 we