Specialization: Community Development (CD)

Community Development is a specialization that is still as important and successful today as it was in the past. It is a specialty that prepares students to work with people, especially to address social issues and promote mutual well-being. Person and community rights are championed by community growth activists in the pursuit of social justice. Community mobilization and social work were responses to the many forces that created inequality in our society. Students are taught to consider various group contexts such as urban, rural, tribal societies, etc., as well as power and structural dynamics. They are encouraged to study issues that result from these settings, to provide a forum for participants to instill the spirit, experience, and skills needed to work in collectives for the development of society in general.

Since its inception in 1967, community development students have been active in a variety of social change programmes, which have evolved into social movements. To mention a few examples, headload vegetable vendors/farmers movement, organic farming awareness building and movement, watershed management, zero waste management, de-addiction movements, environmental protection awareness, and movements. These movements are still going strong, and students are being prepared to work on new social issues.