The Institute of Development Studies is one of the world's leading organisations for research, teaching and communications on international development. Founded in 1966, the Institute enjoys an international reputation based on the quality of its work and the intellectual rigour with which it applies academic skills to real world policy challenges. Its purpose is to understand and explain the world, and to try to change it - to influence as well as to inform.
Research
The Institute is home to approximately 100 research staff who work in partnership with a broad community of researchers all around the world. Together they constitute an active global network in development studies. This partnership approach helps to enrich the research process, while at the same time building and enhancing the capacity of all the organisations involved.
The majority of research work carried out at IDS is multidisciplinary in nature, revolving around a specific issue or objective. It brings together researchers from different academic backgrounds in research groups, networks and multi-partner projects.
Teaching and training
The postgraduate teaching programme at IDS forms one of Europe's largest centres for teaching in development studies. Conducted in collaboration with the University of Sussex, it attracts students from all over the world, many of whom already have considerable experience of development practice, and many go on to hold influential positions in the international development community and beyond.
IDS offers the following postgraduate degrees:
The Institute also offers consultancy and advisory services for funding agencies and development organisations. This includes policy advice, training (in-house or external tailor-made courses), research consultancy and technical assistance, including project design, monitoring and evaluation.
Knowledge sharing
IDS is home to a family of innovative web-based information and advisory services on development. IDS Knowledge Services aim to facilitate the flow of development knowledge to support more informed decision-making by those in a position to influence change. The services identify and bridge knowledge gaps, acting as intermediary between researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners worldwide.
The IDS Knowledge Services are among the most widely used and respected within the development sector, attracting over 160,000 visitors per month and with more than 50,000 subscribers to various e-mail updates and alerts.
Currently there are nine different services hosted at IDS: the British Library of Development Studies (BLDS), the development gateway Eldis, the research dissemination service id21, the gender advisory and information service BRIDGE, the southern-led network GDNet, Livelihoods Connect, the DFID Health Resource Centre, and the Governance Resource Centre. These services are supported in their work by the IDS Communications Team and the Information Systems Unit which provides web and media support and services.
IDS is an independent, not-for-profit company. Read more about IDS management and funding.
Visit our website www.ids.ac.uk
View our latest Annual Report.