India Program Trains Civil Servants
More than 300 officers expected to participate over three-year period

NEARLY 100 OFFICERS of the Indian Administrative Service took part in a four-week executive program designed and developed by the Kennedy School's Executive Education Program in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). The inaugural session of "Governance Challenges for India," the first in a three-year series, was held on the IIMA campus in Ahmedabad in January.

"Looking forward, this first day of 2007 brings us together to embark on a month-long journey of learning from each other and jointly enhancing our understanding of the governance challenges for India," said Kennedy School Associate Professor Akash Deep, faculty cochair of the program. "At the dawn of the year that marks the 60th year of India's independence, the Kennedy School is thrilled to be a part of the process of transition and to do so with those who are best placed to lead that transition."

"At the dawn of the year that marks the 60th year of India's independence, the Kennedy School is thrilled to be a part of the process of transition and to do so with those who are best placed to lead that transition."

According to Professor Sebastian Morris, IIMA faculty cochair, "the objective of the program is to think together about how to make good governance happen. Good governance is achieved through good policies, which, besides having laudable objectives, must also be incentive compatible so they will not require continual administrative energies and support. Through the program, participants will attempt to examine this idea using their experience."

A three-year agreement to design, develop, and deliver the program was signed by the Kennedy School and the Government of India, Department of Personnel and Training. The program is intended to train approximately 360 Indian Administrative Service officers with between 26 to 28 years of experience.

Faculty from the Kennedy School and IIMA collaborated to design an integrated curriculum, which was delivered jointly by 12 Kennedy School and 14 IIMA faculty members over the course of the program. Sessions focusing on governance, political economy, and policy analysis were taught through cases as well as lectures, guest speakers, and specially designed small- and large-group exercises.

The Kennedy School's degree programs and executive education programs have drawn senior officials from around the world for several decades. On average, the school's student population is 43 percent international, with students and participants representing more than 80 countries.