學院計劃的發展從其開始已經導引下列的原則/假設：

The following principles/assumptions have guided the development of the Institute program from its inception:

扶輪所面臨最嚴重的問題是扶輪層級沒有效率且不夠熱心的領導；

The most serious problem facing Rotary is insufficient effective and enthusiastic leadership at the club level;

l 領導技巧是可以“學習的”；

l  Leadership skills can be “learned”;

l 一個人如果瞭解更多扶輪那麼他就會成為一位更熱心的扶輪社員(大部份的扶輪社員對他們自己的扶輪社外的扶輪世界瞭解有限)；

l  The more one knows about Rotary, the more enthusiastic a Rotarian becomes (most Rotarians know very little about the world of Rotary outside of their own clubs);

l 要使參研習會課程的與人員變成熱誠的扶輪社員比背誦扶輪的“事實”更為重要；

l  It is more important for the participants in Institute courses to become enthusiastic Rotarians than to memorize “facts” about Rotary;

l 課程必需在確定的地點和時間舉辦同時為了方便扶輪社員因此要有足以容納的場所。端賴地理區域的大小與一個地區扶輪社的分佈，有時在一個地區單一場的課程可能是不夠的。

l  Courses must be held at locations and times and at a sufficient number of sites that are convenient for Rotary Club members. Depending on the geographical size and distribution of its clubs of a district, a single course in a district may not be sufficient.

l 為了要為扶輪建立熱忱，課程必需要有創意，並要用有所創新教導的方法。要嚴格限制演講，同時強調參與式的分組討論；

l  In order to build enthusiasm for Rotary, courses must be creative, use innovative instructional methods, strictly limit lectures and emphasize participatory discussion groups;

l 最佳的分組討論成果，其每組人數以10至15人位學員為宜；

l  The best results from discussion groups come from groups of ten to fifteen participants;

l 教員人士要經常接受訓練以獲得足夠的經驗以確保效率；

l  Faculty members must continually train and gain experience to be able to remain effective;

l 討論領導人必需問些具有爭論性的問題並且能夠帶出不同意見及經驗…..一位優良的分組討論領導人甚至於能不用講課方式來“教導”以事實為基礎的課程；

l  Discussion leaders must ask provocative questions and be able to bring out varied opinions and experiences ---a good discussion leader can even “teach” fact-based courses without lecturing;

l 適任的教員可由扶輪社現任的社長及前社長、國際扶輪現任的及前職員中選任，以及甚至那些非前社長而在特殊領域有技巧/經驗的人亦可擔任；

l  Qualified faculty members can be drawn from the ranks of present and past club presidents, present and past R.I. officers and even non-past presidents with skills/experience in special areas;

l 這是一項領導發展計劃，最佳參與者是由扶輪社長為該計劃找出未來的扶輪社領導人並推荐他們。在扶輪社中去問每一位社員說“誰要去參加”是沒有效的。

l  This is a LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, which has the best attendance when club presidents identify potential club leaders and nominate them for the program.  It is not effective to ask everyone in the club “who wants to attend?”;

l 這些課程需要由獲益的經驗和學員的評估不斷重審；

l  The curriculum needs constant review to benefit from experience and student evaluations;

l 這些計劃必需在所有舉辦的場所完全一致以便鼓勵參與人員出席所有三種部份課程的任何地點。

l  The program must be essentially the same at all course sites in order to encourage attendance by participants at any locations for all three parts of the courses.