ACICIS Study Indonesia: Development Studies Professional Practicum (DSPP)

The DSPP is a six-week internship program conducted in Jakarta, Indonesia. The program runs from early January to mid-February. It is open to students of development studies and other related areas. The program is designed for students who may not necessarily have Indonesian-language skills or experience in Indonesia. The DSPP provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable experience working in the field of international development.

The Indonesian economy has grown strongly in recent decades and has largely recovered from the economic crisis of the late 1990s. Nonetheless a significant proportion of the country’s population still lives below the poverty line. The democratic credentials of the country have grown remarkably in that past decade, but the pace of political reform continues to outstrip that of basic service provision in a country of 230 million people. Efforts to sustain economic growth have put renewed pressure on Indonesia’s natural resources and put the country at the centre of current climate debates. In short, the country faces a variety of important development challenges that demand the attention of various actors in the development sector. The DSPP offers an opportunity for students to engage with these issues while also developing important practical skills related to advocacy, public relations, administration, research and reporting.