wfn.org | ADRA/Andrews Educational Model Presented

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

July 16, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

ADRA/Andrews Educational Model Presented At 
World Forum in Geneva 

Geneva/Switzerland.       The educational model of 
the ADRA Professional Leadership Institute (APLI) 
was presented at the Geneva 2000 World Forum on 
Social Development in Switzerland from June 25 to 
July 1. The APLI makes available a masteršs degree 
in development to field workers, and is operated
collaboratively by the Adventist Development and 
Relief Agency (ADRA) and Andrews University.

The main theme of the Geneva 2000 forum was 
"Copenhagen Commitments and the United Nations: 
Creating an Enabling Environment for Social 
Development." The theme included the goal of 
enhancing international co-operation, especially at 
the civil society level. The main items for review at 
the summit were 10 Copenhagen commitments, 
agreed to by more than 100 countries five years 
ago at the first worldwide, United Nations-
sponsored Social Development Summit. The 
commitments included an enabling environment for 
social development; poverty eradication; promoting 
social integration; and equality and equity between 
women and men (see 
www.irfd.org/wfeventsmain.html).

At the forum, organized by the International 
Research Foundation for Development, Dr. Oystein 
LaBianca, academic program director of the MSA in 
International Development at Andrews University, 
presented a paper describing the APLI model. The 
presentation, authored by Dr. LaBianca and Gary 
Brendel, ADRA director of human resource 
development and director of the APLI program, was 
titled, "International Cooperation in NGO Capacity 
Building: Lessons Learned from ADRA's Professional 
Leadership Institute."

"Feedback on the presentation was very positive 
and it is clear that the APLI model involving field-
based education for project directors and country 
directors is on the cutting edge of field-based 
training for international development," says 
LaBianca. "Most of the existing training at the 
graduate level requires the student to travel to a 
university in an economically developed country, 
spending a year or two away from their 
employment to study. The APLI program allows the 
student to study and apply what they learn 
immediately while they continue working in their 
current jobs."

The APLI program is currently offered at four 
locations: Lima, Peru; Nairobi, Kenya; Chiang Mai, 
Thailand; and Punta Leona, Costa Rica. The first 
official graduation ceremony for participants in the 
APLI program was conducted at the Andrews 
University campus in Berrien Springs, MI/USA, on 
June 4. Approximately 75 people were eligible to 
receive their diplomas for a master's in 
development at the ceremony. According to 
Brendel, it was the largest number of graduates 
from any of the graduate programs at the 
university.

"Included in the participants were a congressman 
from Peru, a project director for the World Food 
Programme (WFP) in Africa, faculty from three 
Seventh-day Adventist colleges, two lawyers, two 
medical doctors, and individuals from two other 
NGOs (non-governmental organizations)," Brendel 
explains. "Of the graduates, 16 were women, nearly 
21 percent, including ADRA country directors and 
associate directors."

ADRA, formed in 1984, is an independent, 
humanitarian agency established with the specific 
purpose of individual and community development 
and disaster relief. As an NGO, ADRA helps people 
without regard to age, ethnicity, or political or 
religious association in more than 120 countries. 

To learn more about the APLI program, contact 
Gary Brendel at the ADRA Headquarters at 
1-800-931-ADRA (2372) or through ADRAšs 
website at www.adra.org, or visit the Andrews 
University website at www.andrews.edu. 
(215/2000)