JNU | RTI | Directory | Contact Us | Emergency Services | List of Holidays
-A A +A

Transdisciplinary Research Cluster [TRC]

Transdisciplinary Research Cluster [TRC]

Transdisciplinary Research Cluster [TRC]

Creation of the Transdisciplinary Research Cluster was discussed during the preparation of the XIIth Plan document and by the Academic Council, which approved the proposal to create such a Cluster. This was thus included in the XIIth Plan document. The concept of the Cluster was upheld in the Vision document of the University, whose mandate was to 'plan the University's teaching and research so that JNU can assert its relevance and maintain its status as a pre-eminent University of innovation and social change and attain its position amongst the top universities of the world'. This concept formed the basis for the University's proposal to the UGC for the creation of an Innovation University, while JNU's application for the second phase of the University with Potential for Excellence (UPE II) grant, has been modelled, with key features of interdisciplinary research, cutting across Schools and discipline boundaries.

Accordingly, a Transdisciplinary Research Cluster Committee was set up by the Vice-Chancellor in October, 2013, to initiate preliminary activities and provide a seed for this idea within the University. This enabled proposals to be submitted beyond the boundaries of Schools, and issues which relate to transdisciplinarity discussed, with several stakeholders. Further, a meeting of the Committee, with the Vice-Chancellor, was held on 27 June, 2014 in Room No. 201, Administrative Block, JNU, to outline the governing rules of the Cluster.

A warm welcome to the modified and updated website of the Centre for East Asian Studies. The East Asian region has been at the forefront of several path-breaking changes since 1970s beginning with the redefining the development architecture with its State-led development model besides emerging as a major region in the global politics and a key hub of the sophisticated technologies. The Centre is one of the thirteen Centres of the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi that provides a holistic understanding of the region.

Initially, established as a Centre for Chinese and Japanese Studies, it subsequently grew to include Korean Studies as well. At present there are eight faculty members in the Centre. Several distinguished faculty who have now retired include the late Prof. Gargi Dutt, Prof. P.A.N. Murthy, Prof. G.P. Deshpande, Dr. Nranarayan Das, Prof. R.R. Krishnan and Prof. K.V. Kesavan. Besides, Dr. Madhu Bhalla served at the Centre in Chinese Studies Programme during 1994-2006. In addition, Ms. Kamlesh Jain and Dr. M. M. Kunju served the Centre as the Documentation Officers in Chinese and Japanese Studies respectively.

The academic curriculum covers both modern and contemporary facets of East Asia as each scholar specializes in an area of his/her interest in the region. The integrated course involves two semesters of classes at the M. Phil programme and a dissertation for the M. Phil and a thesis for Ph. D programme respectively. The central objective is to impart an interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of history, foreign policy, government and politics, society and culture and political economy of the respective areas. Students can explore new and emerging themes such as East Asian regionalism, the evolving East Asian Community, the rise of China, resurgence of Japan and the prospects for reunification of the Korean peninsula. Additionally, the Centre lays great emphasis on the building of language skills. The background of scholars includes mostly from the social science disciplines; History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, International Relations and language.

Several students of the centre have been recipients of prestigious research fellowships awarded by Japan Foundation, Mombusho (Ministry of Education, Government of Japan), Saburo Okita Memorial Fellowship, Nippon Foundation, Korea Foundation, Nehru Memorial Fellowship, and Fellowship from the Chinese and Taiwanese Governments. Besides, students from Japan receive fellowship from the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.