Immerse yourself

I have followed with interest the discussion and development of the notion of 'immersion' in the lives of individuals and communities and how this can deliver 'better and deeper understandings of poverty' and other realities. Immersions for Policy and Personal Change, a policy brief from IDS, is a useful introduction to what and who is involved in 'immersions'. Such programmes have been organized for a range of professionals by organizations such as The Association for the Promotion of North-South Dialogue and The Grass Roots Immersion Programme (GRIP, run by the World Bank). The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education run immersion programmes in rural Australia that allow teachers, students, academics and other professionals to spend time living in indigenous communities. Harvard and Cornell Universities are two examples of higher learning institutions that have developed immersion programmes in the South for their academic staff and students. There are growing numbers of NGOs, including ActionAid, now running and organizing immersion programmes. The area of immersions is about to receive in-depth treatment and coverage with a special issue of PLA notes forthcoming in December 2007 from IIED.

While I understand and appreciate the benefits of such immersion programmes in the South there must also be many benefits of running similar programmes in local communities in rural/community settings in countries of the North. Surely, immersions can assist rural development professional practitioners in the North to a better and deeper understanding of the realities of rural community life. I would be most interested to hear from anyone familiar with similar programmes in Ireland, UK or elsehwere. I would be especially interested to hear from anyone involved in higher education in Ireland or the UK if immersion-type programmes or placements are used for student learning in rural and community development.