The University of Development Studies (UDS) operates on the mission of supporting the sustainable development of Northern Ghana. UDS describes itself as a 'pro poor' institute, aiming to address the structural causes of poverty, providing Education for Sustainable Development to students and (especially rural) communities. Sustainable development is an integral part of undergraduate education: all students participate in the Third Trimester Field Practical Program (TTFPP) – a mandatory semester of community engagement devoted to practical field work within communities, where students live and work in a local community. The first year is spent studying the community and its needs, which are then addressed practically during the field program.