Notice: Applications for the course are now open. Last date to apply is October 22, 2026. Register Now for Ongoing Courses

Bridge Theory, Gain Experience, Lead Change.

Fast-track your development career by blending Dhaka University’s academic excellence with Friendship’s real-world field experience to master high-demand practical skills and drive measurable impact in global NGOs.

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Objectives of the Course

......
01

Building Capable and Committed Future Development Leaders

To build a pool of young professionals to lead development efforts and social enterprises for disadvantaged communities.

02

Equipping with Cutting-Edge Grassroots Knowledge

To equip them with the state of the art of knowledge, theories and approaches of grassroot development.

03

Fostering Community Engagement and Innovation

To encourage them to facilitate engagement with grassroot communities for learning and innovation.

Winter School on Development in Practice

Development Studies, DU-FA Winter School on Development in Practice 2026

Development Studies, DU, and Friendship Academy are proud to organize the fifth cohort of the month-long (five weeks) certificate course on Development in Practice. The course encourages young development professionals and graduates to enroll to get a blend of both theoretical and practical aspects of development interventions. Considering the impressive response from the interested participants in the last four seasons, we have revisited the course module, duration, and also increased the number of seats. We hope to have a mix of participants from diverse professionals.

Last Date of Submission:

October 22, 2026

Cost of field expenses:
BDT 10,000
(including round-trip travel, food, and overnight accommodation during the field visit to Gaibandha)

Course Duration:
Nov 6 – Dec 5, 2026

Address: Centre on Budget and Policy (CBP), 5th floor, Arts Faculty Building, University of Dhaka.

Email: friendshipacademy@friendship.ngo

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Completed Courses

Explore our successfully finished training programs.

About Us

Development in Practice is designed for graduates and early-career professionals in the development sector. It will be taught by academics of Dhaka University, Learning Planet Institute, France, and notable practitioners from reputed national and international development organisations. The course will devote special attention to practical issues alongside the theoretical study of development concepts—including development models, management, communication, monitoring and evaluation, diversity and inclusion, community engagement, environment and climate change, social innovation, participatory planning, project development, and partnership building. While being focussed on Bangladesh, the course content will be international in its scope and nature. There will be a module devoted to the Japanese concept of Ikigai—finding the worth of one's life and profession. The course will include a field visit to remote, climate-impacted Brahmaputra River island areas in Northern Bangladesh.

About Dhaka University

About Dhaka University

The University of Dhaka, widely known as Dhaka University, is the oldest and largest public research university in Bangladesh, established on July 1, 1921, in the heart of Dhaka city. With over 46,150 students and 1,992 faculty members, it has played a leading role in the country's intellectual, cultural, and political history. The university offers a wide range of academic disciplines across arts, science, business, and social sciences. After the Partition of India in 1947, it emerged as a center of progressive thought and democratic activism in then East Pakistan. The university's students and faculty were pivotal in the Language Movement of 1952, the rise of Bengali nationalism, and the struggle for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Today, Dhaka University remains a prestigious institution, fostering research, critical thinking, and leadership for national development. Know More

About Friendship

About Friendship

Friendship, an international Social Purpose Organisation, has been working for the last 20 years to help address the needs of remote and marginalised communities in Bangladesh—mostly those living in the northern river islands and southern coastal belt. Friendship delivers on its four commitments—Saving Lives, Poverty Alleviation, Climate Adaptation, and Empowerment—by providing effective and integrated services in six sectors interacting with each other: Health, Education, Climate Action, Inclusive Citizenship, Sustainable Economic Development, and Cultural Preservation. The organisation, which started in 2002 with a floating hospital serving only 10,000 patients, is now providing healthcare and other development solutions to more than 3.5 million people a year and is within reach of approximately 7.5 million patients. Nearly two-thirds of its almost 5,000 employees are recruited from within communities and trained as medic-aides, teachers, paralegals, etc.

Our Mentors

Gaell Mainguy

Gaell Mainguy

Deputy Managing Director,
LPI, France

Runa Khan

Runa Khan

Founder,
Friendship

Professor Kazi Maruful Islam

Professor Kazi Maruful Islam

Professor of Governance and Politics,
University of Dhaka