Center-of-Excellence in Communication for Sustainable Social Change (CSSC)

The Center is envisioned as an international resource base and focal point for broad interdisciplinary studies into the theory and practice of sustainable social change communication. CSSC Center personnel are collaborating with researchers and scholars around the globe, holding events and conferences at a physical space that is meant to serve as an intellectual environment for the ongoing study of CSSC. Together with these partners, the Center is undertaking research projects, sharing the results of these dialogues and investigations on CSSC's online clearinghouse for documentation, publications, and other relevant development communication materials and information. A blog has been set up to feature contributions from various participants at CSSC events and to discuss the issues the Center will address.

The CSSC Center also offers an annual award to honour outstanding contributions by individuals or organisations to the theory and practice of CSSC. Winners of the award, which comprises a work of art and US$500, are selected by an independent jury consisting of senior academics and representatives from media, aid, and development organisations. The first winner (2009), former president of the Sierra Club and Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (US), was also the keynote speaker at the CSSC launch event, where he presented: "Communicating Climate Change: Challenges of Scale and the Strategic".

As it develops, the CSSC Center plans to not only research, discuss, and recognise existing communication for development undertakings, but to launch its own programmes and projects seeking appropriate solution-based outcomes in specific national and regional development situations. In so doing (and through all its work), the Center also has an advocacy aim: through these actions, organisers hope to provide impetus, internationally and nationally, to the study and practice of development communication and social change as cross- and inter-cultural, inter-sectoral, and interdisciplinary. A related commitment is to foster awareness amongst aid administrators, policy-makers, and opinion-shapers of innovative applied communication and technology processes for development. CSSC Center personnel also have a consultancy role which involves advising national and international aid administrators, policy-makers, and others on policies and planning matters in the field of CSSC.

Communication for Sustainable Social Change.

The formation of the CSSC Center was motivated by a felt need for close study of society and culture in formulating communication and media strategies in order to ensure that intended audiences are reached in an appropriate manner that most effectively enhances knowledge transfer and brings about sustainable social change.

Click here to access a video of the official opening of the CSSC Center, September 10 2009.