Overview The IDEV Intersession Field Practicum provides students with the opportunity to observe, critique, and learn from international development as it is applied in practice. The 2012 IDEV Intersession Field Practicum will be held in the South American country of Colombia. Having long been associated with violence and civil unrest, Colombia has undergone radical changes over the last two decades. Crime and violence have diminished precipitously, and the country's economy is performing well. The government engineered the remarkable transformation using a unique and sophisticated application of security, economic, and social policy. Trip participants will study macro and micro interventions that facilitated this change as well as the ongoing challenges facing the country. Development work is increasingly taking place in post-conflict environments. This practicum is designed to increase students' knowledge and understanding of development in such an environment. The group will meet with individuals from the government, private sector, and civil society. Students will travel to the cities of Bogota and Medellin and their surrounding areas. Thematic Focus While many issues will be discussed and analyzed during the course of the trip, meetings and field visits will focus on three central themes: Innovative Social Policy - The trip will analyze social policies designed to address issues of violence and inequality. Of particular interest will be the design and application of social programming in highly polarized environments. Included in this theme is the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of ex-paramilitary and guerilla forces. Private Sector Development and Post-conflict Environments - Students will study policies and programs that are needed to encourage economic growth in post-conflict environments. The trip will look at government growth strategies including entrepreneurship development, micro-lending, and industrial clustering. The city of Medellin is known for having a socially minded business class. The trip will look at why the businesses are socially oriented and the actions they have taken to engage in civic life. Developing Consensus in Highly Polarized Environments - A common obstacle to growth in Latin American countries is the lack of political consensus. Different sectors of society often have dramatically different visions and priorities for their communities. Addressing certain issues such as violence and inequality requires sacrifice and buy-in from disparate interest groups who often do not trust one another. Students will study how Colombians developed common strategies and solutions for moving their society forward. Information Session Those considering applying for the Intersession Field Practicum are encouraged to attend the information session to be held at 12:30pm on Wednesday, August 31st in BOB 714. Faculty Advisor Seth Colby, Executive Director of the Bernard Schwartz Forum on Constructive Capitalism Eligibility Budget permitting, IDEV will select 10 students for participation in the 2012 Intersession Field Practicum, one of which will be the student coordinator. Applicants must be full-time SAIS IDEV MA students in good standing in the program and be studying at the Washington, DC campus during the Fall 2011 semester. Spanish Language Ability Students must be proficient in Spanish to participate in the practicum. Most interviews in Colombia will be conducted in Spanish. Students will need a level of Spanish sufficient to actively participate in meetings. An IDEV staff member will determine through a personal interview whether a student's Spanish ability is adequate to be considered for inclusion in the field practicum.
Requirements - Pre-trip Seminars - all students are required to attend and participate in four pre-trip seminars scheduled during the Fall 2011 semester. Failure to attend all of the seminars will jeopardize participation in the field practicum.
- January 2012 trip to Colombia - Selected students are required to participate in all activities related to the Colombia visit (January 10-22, 2012). This includes travel to Colombia with the group to and from Dulles airport.
- Policy Brief or Research Paper - Students will have the option of writing a policy brief or research paper due January 28, 2012.
Applications are due by COB on Monday, September 5, 2011. | 
