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IHEDD: Ongoing Training at the service of Development
The Institute for Advanced Studies in Sustainable Development (IHEDD) was established in 2017 under the auspices of the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (Ferdi). IHEDD provides training for stakeholders involved in development projects and policies within international organisations, bilateral development agencies, non-governmental organisations, public administrations and universities.
IHEDD operates under the bylaws of Ferdi, which is recognised as a professional training organisation.
For its training content, IHEDD favours a co-construction approach to knowledge and skills. Researchers, experts and development practitioners collaborate in designing the educational content.
IHEDD therefore benefits from its network of university institutes and professional organisations at the intersection of research and field action, notably the Centre for Studies and Research on International Development (Cerdi), the School of Economics of Clermont Auvergne University (UCA) , and the Global Development Network (GDN) .
IHEDD training programmes aim to:
- Strengthen understanding of the challenges of economic development by integrating both academic research findings and knowledge of the dynamics specific to local and international contexts.
- Provide analytical and practical tools enabling participants to design, implement and evaluate development projects and policies while taking into account the realities and challenges on the ground.
- Encourage debate and critical reflection by bringing together different ideas and approaches in order to enrich development practices and strategies.
IHEDD in practice
IHEDD offers a wide range of training courses designed for working professionals, aimed at enhancing their skills and expertise in international development. Its programme includes high-level seminars, vocational training courses and Master’s-level degree programmes, with flexible formats ranging from one week to nine months.
Rigorous participant selection
All training courses are subject to a selection process in order to ensure the quality of discussions within the learning groups. Depending on the type of course, the application process may involve reviewing a CV, a cover letter, and in some cases the submission of a specific project.
Training course formats available
Under an agreement with University of Clermont Auvergne (UCA), IHEDD administers two Master’s level (Master 2) degree programmes accredited by the French Ministry of Higher Education:
Lasting two to three days, these seminars bring together policymakers, researchers, senior staff from international organisations and business leaders to discuss a key issue in international development. Organised in partnership with other academic institutions or training centres, often based in an emerging or developing country, they are open to selected participants following an assessment of the relevance of the topic to the candidate’s professional background. Registration is generally free of charge and leads to a certificate of attendance for those who attend regularly.
These courses enable participants to acquire a specific skill, validated by a final assessment. A certificate stating the course title and the number of hours attended is issued by IHEDD on behalf of Ferdi. Enrolment is subject to verification of the candidate’s profile and payment of a contribution towards course fees. These courses can be organised in various ways:
These courses enable participants to acquire a specific skill, validated through a final assessment. A certificate stating the title of the course and the number of hours completed is issued by IHEDD on behalf of Ferdi. Registration is subject to verification of the candidate’s profile and payment of a contribution towards the training costs. They may be organised in different formats:
- Online Training Course: provided via an online learning platform containing digital teaching materials (videos, quizzes, texts, data, simulators, etc.) accessible 24/7 throughout the duration of the course, combined with regular videoconferences/virtual classes with trainers and/or guest speakers, and supported by a discussion forum and a WhatsApp group.
- In-person Training Course: organised in Clermont-Ferrand or on the premises of a partner institution, these courses require selection based on an application (CV and cover letter) and prioritise the sharing of experiences among participants from diverse professional and geographical backgrounds.
- “Itemized” training pathways: offering increased flexibility, these pathways combine qualifying distance-learning courses with in-person sessions. They enable participants to build a personalised pathway focused on a specific issue (e.g. natural resource management) by completing several online training modules before joining an in-person session. Completion of one or more online modules, considered compulsory, is a prerequisite for registration for the in-person sessions.
IHEDD can also design training courses tailored to the specific needs of a country, a government body or an organisation (public or private) wishing to explore a particular topic in greater depth or work on its own data and challenges through a training-action format.
Registration fees and funding
IHEDD training courses are subject to a contribution towards registration fees, the amount of which varies depending on the topic and format of the course. Thanks to support from technical and financial partners, reduced fees or scholarships may be available under certain conditions. For in-person training courses, scholarships primarily cover logistical costs in order to ensure geographical diversity among participants.
However, since the number of scholarships is limited, selected candidates are strongly encouraged to seek their own funding in order to secure their participation.
For candidates of French nationality, certain courses may be funded through public schemes, in particular the Personal Training Account (Compte personnel de formation - CPF) and OPCO funds dedicated to vocational training.
IHEDD, a network of development actors
IHEDD is also a space for exchange and collaboration bringing together a network of stakeholders engaged in international development. This network is built at two levels: firstly, through the co-creation of training course content; and secondly, by fostering a community of training course participants.
By joining an IHEDD training course, each participant contributes to the pooling of knowledge, where reflection and action mutually reinforce one another, thereby strengthening the impact of development policies and projects.
IHEDD, a recognised mark of quality
IHEDD is a department of Ferdi, recognised as being of public utility (FRUP) established in 2003 and registered with the Prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region as a vocational training provider in accordance with the provisions of Article R 6351-6 of the Labour Code under the number 84 630 482 163.
The institute has been certified Qualiopi since 2022.
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