==Concept of the Development-Network==
The objective of the '''[http://www.development-network.de= development-network]''' is to create a platform where young people (students, Ph.D. researchers, practitioners) working on developmental issues in different areas (economy, political sciences, social sciences, natural sciences…) can exchange ideas and experiences. They will be able to profit from the relationships started in the network also when they finish their studies and start working.
===Why do we need a development-network?===
More often than not '''Development collaboration''' is not an academic field ''per se'' at most universities. Students willing to work in international development after their studies are first enrolled in departments as diverse as Economics, Political Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences... Most of these students have experienced the need of finding their own way through their studies. If we had an option to bring like minded individuals together and let them exchange views, experiences and knowledge, each and everyone of them could have reduced “cost of time and money†for finding the relevant information.
Apart from the University Hohenheim, which is regionally oriented and provides a database for internships, there is no platform in Germany like the '''development-network''', yet.
===Objective put into practise===
====As it is now====
*Internet based forum. An electronic forum is linked to our homepage where members can discuss recent issues relevant to international development.
*Meetings. In addition to forum, we also organize face to face meetings to conclude internet based discussions and launch new ones.
*A profile of each member to facilitate contacts. Each member sets up his/her profile in order to enable specialists' identification for specific questions. This is also the main reason for making membership which needs to be approved, because we want people helping others to be sure that this takes place within a limited frame where everybody can expect to receive help as soon as he needs some.
*A glossary. To increase the utility individual members enjoy through the membership in the network, we also develop a glossary with searchable technical terms used in the area of international development.
*Comprehensive collection of links to relevant websites.The homepage of the development-network is supposed to be the starting point for students that have questions regarding development collaboration. A comprehensive collection of links to external organizations shall help to find information more easily.
*Information by email about fairs, seminars, conferences, interesting lectures and others. Members of the network will be informed about ongoing events via homepage and via email.
====Steps to follow====
*Expand and strengthen the points described above
*Find supportive organization. At the moment we are working on the issue of finding an organization in the area of development collaboration who can profit by collaborating with a network of students of development. We need such an organization for financial support to be able to make the internet platform more sophisticated and to be able to organize annual meetings. In this context we are exploring the options to cooperate with Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural for Development (YPARD). '''WAYS could be a very good partner in this respect :)'''
*Annual meetings with students from all over Germany to have an exchange of information and training courses. It is important to bring together students and young professionals in the area of development collaboration at least once a year. It is important for students and young professionals to meet each other and to get contacts as early as possible. Information can be disseminated, presentations been hold by the young people or by guest lecturers. Intensifying exchange like this has the potential to improve education during studies significantly.
*Excursions. Excursions are common in many areas. Education in the field of development is not organized and executed at one department of a university, because of that one will not find excursions being organized. Through the development-network students shall be encouraged to organize excursions visiting organizations working on development issues in their closer environment. Doing this way, students can have an impression and exposure of what might await them in their work life earlier during their studies.
*Database for internships. Contacts from more experienced members and contacts made through excursions can be collected to provide younger students a database they can use to search for own internships.
==Workshop: Contents
