The Institute of Governance Studies responds to the concept of governance by integrating the social sciences and the professional disciplines in its academic programmes and research agenda. The governance approach integrates the education and training of those political leaders and career professionals engaged in the process of formulating and managing public policy.
At a time when new technologies and grassroots initiatives from citizen and non-governmental associations are unlocking an untapped potential in civil society, the erosion of governmental effectiveness in much of the developing world, as in Bangladesh, threatens to offset these promising advances. Progress in reforming governments may well depend on a strengthening of these nascent grassroots initiatives from the citizenry and civil society in Bangladesh and throughout the developing world. Good ‘governance' then is inextricably dependent on civil society including the private sector, the non-governmental associations, and the media, among others in society for supporting and contributing to effective, efficient and equitable performance in the governmental sector.
From this framework the future role of the Institute of Governance Studies within BRAC University and Bangladesh society is fashioned. As a programme of a university, IGS assumes an academic purpose including teaching, research and service to the community. The Institute offers a mission statement and potential path of growth for a programme consistent with BRAC University's purpose and with the challenge of improving governance in Bangladesh, South Asia and elsewhere in the world over the coming decades.
