In India, human development advocacy through workshops and trainings has led to an understanding that it is imperative to invest in the pedagogy of human development in order to reach out to the large audience of students and youth that are likely to be both the decision makers and beneficiaries with regard to human development in the next generation and to integrate human development into the mainstream debate on development as formulated through University textbooks and research.  Only when the concept of human development and the practise of Human Development Reports mingle with academic debate and research and consequently give rise to schools of interpretation can it truly be said to have become a field as distinct from a preoccupation of a few.

Accordingly, the Planning Commission and UNDP, under the Project “Capacity Building for Preparation of State HDRs”, have initiated an exercise to introduce the concept of human development at the University level in partnership with the Universities Grant Commission (UGC), steered by an advisory committee, consisting of eminent development practitioners, under the leadership of the Chairman, University Grants Commission.

An expert group was constituted to peer review the substantive work and five regional consultations were held in Hyderabad, Lucknow, Kolkata, Mumbai and Shillong.  At these consultations, more than 150 members of academic community discussed not only the concepts of human development but also offered their suggestions for the formation of a syllabus or course curriculum at the University level which have enriched these modules. The Institute of Human Development, New Delhi anchored this exercise.

A workshop was held on 11 December, 2004 in New Delhi to present an indicative outline of the course curriculum on human development (view workshop presentation), seek suggestions and explore ways in which this course can be included in the existing course offerings.

Many Universities have expressed willingness for introducing the course.  The S.N.D.T. Women’s University, Mumbai has taken a step in this direction and is conducting an Orientation Programme as a pre-runner to the HDR Chapter at the University in the first quarter of 2005.

UNDP’s support has been requested towards initiating this curriculum in identified Universities.  Specifically, UNDP’s guidance has been sought on modifying the course outline in line with the recommendations during the workshop, building resource and reading materials and providing services of identified experts.