Institute of Development Studies

International Alumni Groups

Guided by sentiments expressed at the formation of IDSAA, the Management Committee has no blueprint for building the association. The constitution does not prescribe any particular way of organising.

So, what members do to create an effective association needs to reflect your priorities and context. The Management Committee can only offer some suggestions and a simple requirement in establishing IDSAA in your country or location. The simple requirement is that one person should be made known to the Management Committee as the point of reference for communication. This obviously does not restrict communication from any member directly to the Management Committee, unless you decide that this should be the case for your group.

A Convenor could be the chairperson or secretary of an IDSAA chapter, if you form one. She or he could be the focal point of an (in)formal network if that is what you want. He or she could be an office bearer of a society or local/national association if that is what suits your situation. The point is that this person is active and known to you and to the Management Committee. Whatever you do, please inform the Management Committee so that we can keep track of progress and share details of your initiatives with others who are thinking of setting up an IDSAA group. A Convenor’s minimal role is to provide a link between Alumni and the Management Committee. This could include keeping us up to date on members addresses; gather opinions about how IDSAA can serve its members; after consultation, provide inputs to committee deliberations, especially on issues to be discussed by the IDS Governing Council; stimulate interaction and initiatives between Alumni; and provide IDS students with a link to the local scene.

If you need advice, suggestions or information on how other Alumni are organising IDSAA in their location please contact the Alumni Office.