History

The seeds of the Community Development Programme (ComDev) as we know it today were planted in 1998 when the first degree course was offered to a class comprising mainly mature students who were working in the Department of Water Affairs and Umgeni Water. The 'Post-graduate Diploma in Education, Training and Development (Community Development)' was the flagship of the ComDev programme since then, particularly since it offers access to practitioners who have not previously had the chance to complete Higher Education qualifications. A large number of the students were admitted on R33 candidates (the former University of Natal?s conditional admission for mature students with experience) and to-date we have been successful in guiding and supporting them towards success.

The first year of the Bachelor of Community and Development Studies was offered in 2000. It created an access point to degree study for youth and mature students who had previously completed the 'CSTP' (Community Service Training Programme, erstwhile located within what is now the School of Development Studies), a non-formal programme. The first group of students graduated with the B DevCom in 2002.

In response to increasing pressure to offer a Masters in Community and Development Studies, catering to both students who had successfully completed the Post-graduate Diploma and practitioners in the field who had never previously studied community development, ComDev enrolled the first group of students, in 2002, and the second in 2003.

Purpose

The purpose of the ComDev programme is to produce qualified community development practitioners who are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and the practical skills necessary to initiate, implement and manage community development initiatives at all levels.

Vision

To produce qualified community development practitioners who are equipped with both theoretical knowledge and the practical skills necessary to initiate, implement and manage community development initiatives at all levels.

Mission and Core Values

The programme of Community Development is driven by a sense of responsibility to the development of communities at the local, regional, national and continental level. For this, considerations of race, gender, class and physical ability are central. Academic staff within the programme are engaged in both the theoretical principles underlying African Scholarship, and applied research into local and regional issues such as poverty, social exclusion and political governance. While the programme and teaching are informed by scientific knowledge, our work is underscored by a deep interest in indigenous knowledge systems and ways of negotiating as well as valorising different ways of knowing.

A belief in and commitment to actively fostering social justice translates into participatory forms of teaching, conducting research and community outreach. As work in community development demands active citizenship, members of staff engage in civil society both as academics and as citizens.