University of Makeni UNIMAK Department of Development Studies
UNIMAK Department of Development Studies – Check below:
Mission Statement
We are committed to quality education that addresses the human, social, political and economic development needs of Sierra Leone.
Objectives
> To create a teaching and learning environment that nurtures academic excellence.
> To develop students’ skills to expand the freedom and (democracy) of others and promote human dignity.
> To enable students to understand the holistic development of the person in the community and at the same time respect the environment.
> To provide specialised training in research and development activities.
> To help students relate theory and practice, that is, they are encouraged to relate their classroom experience to actual community life.
Aim
To train students to recognize and critically analyse the development problems of their communities and design a combination of development strategies that will provide effective solutions to these problems.
Our development studies programme at Fatima College is designed specifically for those who are:
Employed in public sector services and NGOs who are eager to keep up with best practices from around the globe.
Fresh school leavers wishing to study and make development a career
Policy makers who are looking to update their knowledge and sharpen their skills in development, communication, and research.
Project/program directors/consultants wishing to gain a deeper understanding
of the critical issues in development and research
DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
The main departmental activities apart from teaching and research include:
Community resident Internship
Annual seminars: Organising annual development studies seminars for final year undergraduate students
Partnership: Engaging in partnerships both within and outside Sierra Leone
Study tours
RESIDENT COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP
INTRODUCTION
The Development Studies Department of UNIMAK has a resident internship programme
which aims to give students practical experience in a rural community for ten weeks, thus
linking theory to practice.
OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives include:
Introducing students to living and working in rural communities, especially fresh school leavers with no development work experience.
Sending students to live, work, experience and observe how community people, institutions and organisations conduct their development activities.
Joining the pool of community animators/teachers in the community schools of their locations.
Assessing, observing and mobilizing communities to undertake community development projects/activities.
Conducting needs assessments and present report to the department.
Working with communities to propose strategies for improving their communities.
RESIDENT INTERNSHIP
Regular students are sent to live in various communities and institutions, work with the
people in a bid to acquire knowledge and experiences outside the lecture rooms.
Students with NGO experience and other work do not go for internship but undertake other community projects in the Bombali District.
ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT STUDIES SEMINAR
A day’s seminar is organised annually for fourth/final year students at the end of the second semester. During this period students, staff and other guest speakers reflect on University life and the world of work. This is done through experience sharing, etc and “looking ahead”. The latter means sharing dreams on what the future holds for graduating students.
PARTNERSHIP
The department partners with other Universities in organising internships. Coventry
University in the UK is a leading partner.
STUDY TOURS
The department organises study tours to places of varying interests and attentions. Students and lecturers make field study visit to the sites to get first hand information and experiences. Preferred sites include natural scenes, institutions, organisations, etc.
In the last few years study tours were made to African Minerals Company Limited (a mining company of assorted minerals in Northern Sierra Leone); Pepel Town (a town at the sea shore in Port Loko District where some mining companies ship raw materials for export and processing overseas) and the Bumbuna Hydro-electric Dam (found in Tonkolili District.