The fundamental principles of the PDIA approach to enhancing state capability are gaining recognition in development and policy spheres. As part of our efforts to disseminate the essence of PDIA and foster a global community of practice, we conducted an experiment by offering our first free online course.
Titled “PDIA: Building Capability by Delivering Results,” the inaugural course comprised two parts. The first segment spanned six weeks, from November 8th to December 20th, 2015, and featured video lectures, reading materials, assignments, reflection exercises, and opportunities for peer interaction.
Some noteworthy statistics from the course include:
- 510 development practitioners from across the globe enrolled on November 8th.
- 58% (295 participants) submitted assignments during the first week.
- 47% (241 participants) successfully completed the entire six-week course, dedicating an average of 3-5 hours per week to assignments.
One participant expressed their appreciation for the course in a blog post, highlighting its value in providing an intellectual framework for implementing projects and programs differently, thus enhancing the chances of success.
Here’s a summary of the key learnings from the course:
- There is a growing demand for alternative approaches to development.
- Development practitioners are willing to allocate several hours per week to courses that offer practical utility.
- Short, concise videos serve as effective instructional tools.
- Reflection exercises aid in internalizing concepts and applying them to real-world scenarios.
- Learning within one’s environment over time facilitates deep understanding and transformation.
- Sustainable change necessitates educating teams dealing with similar issues.
- Future iterations of the course may cater to two distinct audiences: those seeking a broad understanding of PDIA and those interested in in-depth application.
The second part of the course, spanning eight weeks, is set to conclude on March 30th, 2016. We are excited to announce that we plan to offer additional rounds of the course in the near future. Stay tuned for updates!