The University Grants Commission has sanctioned an advanced centre for Chinese studies at the Mahatma Gandhi University under the Area Studies Scheme of the Commission.
Following the decision, the University Syndicate, in its recent meeting, has resolved to establish the Institute for Contemporary Chinese Studies (ICCS) as per the proposal that was approved by the UGC.
Dr. Raju Thadikkaran, Director of the School of International Relations and Politics, shall serve as the Director of the institute during the period of the UGC sanction. Dr. Raju said the advanced centre for teaching and research will focus on the major areas of political changes, economic growth and social development, institutional innovation, Intellectual Property Rights, Special Economic Zones, urban studies, internationalisation of higher education, and diaspora studies. The UGC centre will be formally inaugurated in December 2011 at Kottayam.
In the recent Syndicate meeting, University Vice Chancellor Prof. Rajan Gurukkal had observed that the ICCS shall function as an independent and autonomous teaching and academic department of the university.
Mr. Thadikkaran also points out that the centre is also being envisaged as a research intensive centre for advanced studies that is capable of offering Post Graduate and Research Programmes in Chinese studies. Notably, the UGC has sanctioned one position of Associate Professor, two positions of Assistant Professors and two positions of Research Associates for the effective implementation of the scheme. In addition, the UGC award for the initial period for the five years carries around Rs.32 lakhs as non-recurring grant.
Mr. Thadikkaran said the studies relating to the development of China hold immense prominence in the present day scenario. “China is witnessing remarkable changes in the realm of Higher Education, development of special economic source and coastal port cities, building up of infrastructure facilities, protection and management of intellectual property rights, institutional innovation and technology modernization. There are many issues that India and the rest of the world could learn from China and vice versa as well. The focus of the centre shall be to identify the features of such programmes with a view to learning from each other,” he observes.
Published - October 28, 2011 06:17 pm IST
