How do “pracademics” — individuals who combine academia and practice in their work — bring a distinct contribution to the social, economic, and environmental change that global development efforts champion?
We have seen time and again how international development largely treats academia and practice as mutually exclusive. Yet, as pracademics, like many other professionals in the sector, we face the continuous challenge of making development efforts more effective.
Often, our work occurs in settings that are unstable, using resources that are inadequate or unreliable, within an ailing aid system. We believe that such a description is a reality experienced by many Devex readers, and that pracademics have an important role to play in solving our most pressing global challenges.
About the author
Members of the Pracademic Development Initiative
The Pracademic Development Initiative is a voluntary effort promoting the distinct value as change agents of people, combining academic affiliations with practical social involvement. PDI co-convenes the Pracademic Affinity Group of the International Society for Third Sector Research and will host multiple events at the ISTR conference to be held in July 2024. Contributing authors are Alan Fowler, Wits Business School, South Africa; Angela Crack, University of Portsmouth; Faina Diola, University of the Philippines; Inés M. Pousadela, CIVICUS: Global Alliance for Citizen Participation/Universidad ORT Uruguay; and Willem Elbers, Radboud University.
