I am using this time to reflect on my experiences as a whole throughout this journey, and I would like to share a few key experiences that I have come across through IDRP 24 credit.
- Timing is so important! Especially doing the 24 credit point, timing and time management has been crucial. You can not always rely on your industry partner to prioritize signing your documents etc., and as such it is your responsibility to organize key components of your IDRP well in advance. This is something that will definitely translate into the development world for me. Being a uni student, we are used to our lecturers having to respond to us within a certain reasonable time-frame, but this will not be the case working with stakeholders, beneficiaries, and other organisations out in the field.
- Approach everything with an open, yet reflective mind. When looking at actions of stakeholders, it is important to always understand WHY they are doing something that you don’t agree with. Instead of just saying ‘no, I don’t like this’, reflective thinking not only helps you understand them, but helps you build a solution to combat whatever it is that doesn’t sit well with you.
- There is (usually) always literature from other development practitioners who have had similar experiences to you, and these can be some of the best resources to learn from! While there is always more room for study, chances are that other practitioners have had a similar experience to you, and seeking out these sources is the first step to understanding your own experience.
- In projects, things change. My project definitely changed throughout the course of the IDRP, catering for new information and industry output needs, resulting in me adding an M&E framework to my industry output as well. While I was initially worried, I have understood that in development, there are things that are completely out of your control. And the best thing to do is be as flexible as possible, and use each change as a learning experience.
Thanks for the great semester, I have really enjoyed this unit and experience!
Amina