The Cosmopolitan Development Project
Assessing the impacts of international volunteering
This Cosmopolitan Development Project will provide new ways of thinking about the impact of international development volunteering. It examines how volunteering contributes to more equal partnerships between Australia and its neighbouring countries and how it transforms the ways volunteers and host organisations perceive and respond to global challenges. The program will run between 2012-2015.
LATEST NEWS....
Project Reports
The Impacts of International Volunteering: Summary of the Findings - provides a comprehensive overview of our research and key findings.
Expectations & Realities of International Development Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of the findings from surveys with volunteers.
Host Organisation Perspectives on the Impacts of International Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of interviews with host organisations.
Volunteer Perspectives on the Impacts of International Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of interviews with volunteers.
Expectations & Realities of International Development Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of the findings from surveys with volunteers.
Host Organisation Perspectives on the Impacts of International Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of interviews with host organisations.
Volunteer Perspectives on the Impacts of International Volunteering - provides a detailed analysis of interviews with volunteers.
Recent Publications
Schech, S., Skelton, T., & Mundkur, A. 2016 Building relationships and negotiating difference in international development volunteerism, The Geographical Journal (special issue eds Sallie Yea and Harng Luh Sin) doi: 10.1111/geoj.12199
Schech, S., Mundkur, A., Skelton, T. & Kothari, U. 2015 New spaces of development partnership: rethinking international volunteering, Progress in Development Studies 15(4): 358-370
Schech, S. (2016) Partnership, public diplomacy, or communication for development? Conflicting discourses of international development volunteering, in Hemer, O. and T. Tufte (eds) Voice & Matter – Contemporary Challenges in Communication for Development, Göteborg: NORDICOM, pp. 87-100
Schech, S., Mundkur, A., Skelton, T. & Kothari, U. 2015 New spaces of development partnership: rethinking international volunteering, Progress in Development Studies 15(4): 358-370
Schech, S. (2016) Partnership, public diplomacy, or communication for development? Conflicting discourses of international development volunteering, in Hemer, O. and T. Tufte (eds) Voice & Matter – Contemporary Challenges in Communication for Development, Göteborg: NORDICOM, pp. 87-100
“Research for the Real World”
Flinders University's Professionals’ Lecture Series
International development volunteerism: who benefits and how?
Many Australians spend time abroad volunteering in development organisations or local community organisations. Who benefits from international volunteering, and how, is a matter for debate. The impacts of volunteering are difficult to evaluate with standard indicators used to measure development effectiveness. This presentation reports on the key findings of a university - industry research project that analysed the development impacts of Australian international volunteerism. It highlights mutual capacity building, a better understanding of global issues, and practicing real partnership as the three most important impacts. Evaluating these impacts requires qualitative methods and a shift in thinking about what constitutes development effectiveness.
Event Details
Tuesday, 15 November 2016 | 3.45pm for 4pm
Flinders University, Victoria Square Campus in the City, Level 1, 182 Victoria Square (cnr Flinders St)
Registration to: professionalslectureseries@flinders.edu.au by 14 November with your full name & organisation/
company/government entity. Refreshments will follow the 1 hour lecture. Don’t miss this great networking opportunity.
Many Australians spend time abroad volunteering in development organisations or local community organisations. Who benefits from international volunteering, and how, is a matter for debate. The impacts of volunteering are difficult to evaluate with standard indicators used to measure development effectiveness. This presentation reports on the key findings of a university - industry research project that analysed the development impacts of Australian international volunteerism. It highlights mutual capacity building, a better understanding of global issues, and practicing real partnership as the three most important impacts. Evaluating these impacts requires qualitative methods and a shift in thinking about what constitutes development effectiveness.
Event Details
Tuesday, 15 November 2016 | 3.45pm for 4pm
Flinders University, Victoria Square Campus in the City, Level 1, 182 Victoria Square (cnr Flinders St)
Registration to: professionalslectureseries@flinders.edu.au by 14 November with your full name & organisation/
company/government entity. Refreshments will follow the 1 hour lecture. Don’t miss this great networking opportunity.
Partner Institutions
The School of History and International Relations offers exciting opportunities to its students and is at the forefront of the study of modern history, international relations of the Asia-Pacific region, and challenges of development.
Scope Global, formerly Austraining International, is a specialist project management and international development organisation focusing on transitioning people across cultures.
The Australian Research Council is a statutory agency within the Australian Government's Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education portfolio.
The NUS Department of Geography specializes in geographical knowledge production and dissemination, through both teaching and research, within Asia and globally.
IDPM's objective is to promote social and economic development, by enhancing the capabilities of individuals and organisations.
