Activities

The India Focus concentrates on key topics of contemporary importance. They cover a variety of fields, from international trade to migration, from social developments to historical events. These topics are approached from several disciplines, including law, economics, political science, history, anthropology and philosophy. In order to reach this goal, the India Focus organizes:

1. Teaching activities include both seminars and workshops for postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, and courses on India for undergraduates and graduates.

• In 2011-2012, two courses are taugh on India: 'History of Modern India' (BA level, 4ECTS) and 'East-West Perspectives in Philosophy' with a specific focus on India (BA level, 4ECTS).
• A course on 'Indian Contemporary Society' is currently in development and will be taught from 2012-13 onwards. In order to provide an overall picture of diverse issues in today's India, this course will give the floor to visiting professors, Indian entrepreneurs in Belgium, and fieldworkers.
• In the near future, we also want to create other courses, for instance related to Indian law and economics.
• The India Focus explores the possibilities to establish a two-weekly summer course which would enable a group of European and Indian students to jointly follow courses, one week in India and one week in Leuven.

All of these courses are open to all KU Leuven students. Indian history, for instance, is also attended by engineer students who plan training in India.
 

2. Exchange of researchers and development of partnerships between Europe and India. The Centre and the Leuven India Focus are keen to develop partnerships with Indian academic institutions, institutes and think thanks. At the moment, we already cooperate with the University of Delhi, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (Delhi), the University of Mumbai, the University of Hyderabad and the University of Calcutta. In Europe, we closely collaborate with the University of Warsaw (Centre for Contemporary India Research and Studies at the Institute of International Relations) and with the University of Heidelberg (South Asia Institute).
 

3. Research activities that aim to develop a deep knowledge of the Indian economic, political, social and cultural realities.

• The India Focus conducts fundamental research on several topics which lead to scholarly publications in high level academic journals. Current research topics include the EU India Free Trade Agreement, South Asian migration, and federalism.
• Research is also disseminated via public information activities such as op-eds in newspapers, interviews on India for national magazines and newspapers.

4. Outreach activities ranging from lectures to workshops that will gather researchers, policymakers and European and Indian entrepreneurs to allow them to share their experiences. Outreach activities are geared towards the general public, journalists, entrepreneurs and civil society representatives. The India Focus has already organized an extensive number of outreach activities which are listed below.