Inner Development Goals in Practice: How to Become a Professional for a Sustainable Future?

What does this Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) entail?

This Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is a learning opportunity where participants learn about the Inner Development Goals (IDG's) and also work on their own Inner Development to be able to learn how to become an IDG professional for a more sustainable future. This BIP will be hosted by NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands and will be organized in collaboration with TUS (Technological University of the Shannon) from Ireland and IPCA (Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave) from Portugal.

Why Inner Development Goals?

“In 2015, the UN Sustainable Development goals (SDG's) provided a comprehensive plan for a sustainable world by 2030. However, progress is not happening fast enough, and we urgently need to increase our collective abilities to face and work effectively with complex challenges.
This is why we are co-creating the Inner Development Goals* (IDG's) – a non-profit, open-source initiative committed to fostering inner development towards more sustainable futures.”  (Inner Development Goals – Inner Growth for Outer Change)

*IMPORTANT NOTE: soon the Inner Development Goals will be renamed as Inner Development Guide

What are the Inner Development Goals/Guide?

The Inner Development Goals (IDG's) are a research-based framework of 23 skills and qualities across five dimensions (Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting) designed to cultivate the inner capacities needed to achieve a sustainable future and the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The framework addresses the personal and emotional growth required to tackle global challenges. 

Why use the IDG's for educational purposes?

The Inner Development Goals (IDG's) are used for educational purposes to foster individuals' inner capacities - such as self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking - which are crucial for addressing complex societal and environmental challenges, moving beyond traditional academics to support personal growth for social and environmental sustainability. Integrating IDG's helps prepare students to become effective change agents, enabling them to navigate a complex world and achieve the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) by promoting inner transformation alongside external action. 

How do we get more awareness and individual development on the Inner Development Goals for a more sustainable future?

Participants of the BIP will work and learn in intercultural teams on a sustainable challenge where the focus will be on developing and applying their individual Inner Development Goals (IDG's) for their personal and professional growth. 

The project teams will work according to the design-based education (DBE) concept of NHL Stenden. The most important characteristics of Design Based Education are summarized in 5 coherent facets that reinforce each other:

1. Multidisciplinary collaboration - The student is open to insights from other disciplines and respects other perspectives. He collaborates with others constructively to find solutions for complex real-life issues.
2. International and intercultural - The student develops into a global citizen and feels at home in an international context.
3. Design Thinking - The student develops into an inventive professional who investigates real-life issues in an iterative way in order to find meaningful and innovative solutions.
4. Personal leadership - The student is proactive and continues to develop and adapt to changing circumstances based on a highly developed professional identity and their own (moral) compass.
5. Sustainable education - The student develops into a self-learning and responsible professional who has respect for others, other cultures and views. A professional who contributes to a sustainable, just and inclusive society.

As a participant, you will work within the five dimensions of the Inner Development Goals: Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating, and Acting. Through engaging activities such as local visits, workshops, inner work, dialogue sessions, expert lectures and social events, participants will learn more about the IDG's as well as NHL Stenden and the beautiful Province of Friesland, that is world leader in circular economy, and its capital city Leeuwarden. 

Join us for this opportunity to develop yourself towards an IDG - professional, and become a change maker for a more sustainable future in a global environment!