Nordic Centre in India

1. Nordic Centre in India Short Term Summer Training Courses 2010

2. Contemporary India University of Hyderabad

3. Contemporary India : 2009June 20th to July 17th , 2010 – Capacity: 50 students For more details about this course please visit www.nci.uu.se

4. Course Outline • 18-20 Lectures (1.5 hour duration) + 1 city-trip + 1 field-trip + discussions + library work • Assessment: term paper + book report + field report + quiz • Topics covered include Indian politics, philosophy, society, economy, religion, temporal, spatial and linguistic diversity, development concerns, etc.

5. Strengths of the host institution Study in India Program – a specialized, interdisciplinary initiative of the University of Hyderabad with more than a decade’s experience that caters to the needs of foreign students in India. Led by faculty members trained in various reputed universities abroad, this program tries to bridge the cultural gap in a meaningful fashion through the various specialized courses they offer.

6. Study in India Program For more information look at http://www.uohyd.ernet.in/academic/academic_outreach/study_in_india_prog/index.html

7. Strengths of the host institution Infrastructure – air-conditioned classrooms, library, computers, internet access, air-conditioned single/double occupancy hostel rooms at international student hostel, food and water meeting standards acceptable to international students, health centre, shopping centre, tailor, bicycles for rent, sports facility, yoga centre, movie hall, ATM, etc.

8. Strengths of the host institution 10 schools of study + several specialized centers + 348 permanent teaching staff + extensive and able administrative support Administrative, financial, and academic will to make the university an attractive choice for foreign students and faculty members

9. Strengths of the course • Interdisciplinary – can cater to students from various disciplinary backgrounds • Holistic introduction to India – from a practical, academic and cultural point of view • Great primary orientation course from a social science perspective • Can serve as a useful starting point for students interested in India as it not only introduces the complexities of the issues characteristic of and confronting India, but also provides a guided introduction to faculty members of certain specializations that can answer questions with a lot more clarity, and that could lead to research support and assistance in the future.

10. Strengths of the course cont. • Coherent assessment standards with assignment details given to the students before the course begins, and with assignments spread over the length of the whole four weeks so as to not make the workload too high • Flexible approach to topics for lectures => contemporary issues included + additional lecture topics arranged for according to the interests of the students, e.g. in 2007 lectures were arranged on homosexuality in Indian literature and Indian society, in 2008, lectures were arranged on Indian philosophy, and in 2009, lectures were arranged on Indian religion, religion and politics in India

11. Strengths of the course cont. • Supplementary Yoga and Hindi classes available • Student program asst. available for academic and practical assistance 24X7 • Finally, at-least 2 weekends off for independent travel to nearby areas of interest like Hampi, Nagarjunakonda, and evenings off for a slow discovery of the city itself which is an interesting juxtaposition of diverse historical elements and contemporary economic forces, and even better, evening s off for a slow discovery of the great cuisine of Hyderabad, its rich heritage, and its typical laid back pace of life

12. Demography, Gender and Reproductive Health IIPS, Mumbai

13. Demography, Gender and Reproductive Health July 18th to August 14th, 2010 – 7.5 ECTS Capacity: 24 students For more details about this course please visit www.nci.uu.se Students at IIPS in 2008

14. Course Outline • Specialized course dealing with basic introduction to India’s history, culture, economy and society + demographic concepts and methods + population studies + gender and reproductive health • 20-25 lectures + 8 field trips + library work • Assessment: 1 term paper + 1 book review + 1 assignment based on any one field visit • Extensive field trips: Shanti Van: Panvel, Mankhud Slum, Family Planning Association of India, Tata Institute of Social Science, National Institute of Research on Reproductive Health • Excursions: Pachod, Ellora, Lonavala, Bombay City trip

15. Strengths of the host institution Organization: Short term Training Program Coordination cell Infrastructure – single occupancy accommodation + air-conditioning + catered food + safe drinking water + computer center + internet access + well stocked library Faculty proficient in all kinds of empirical demographic methods + institute known for its reliable nationwide surveys

16. Strengths of the course • Does not assume prior knowledge and therefore, is open to students from various disciplinary backgrounds • Good introduction to population studies, gender and reproductive health in the Indian context • Can serve as a useful starting point for students interested in social dilemmas confronting India as it not only introduces the complexities of the issues characteristic of and confronting India, but also provides a guided introduction to faculty members of certain specializations that can answer questions with a lot more clarity, and that could lead to research support and assistance in the future

17. Strengths of the course cont. • Coherent assessment standards with assignment details given to the students before the course begins, and with assignments spread over the length of the whole four weeks so as to not make the workload too high • Extensive field trips and excursions

18. Approaching the Environment in India ISEC, Bangalore

19. Approaching the Environment in India 4th July to 31st July 2010 -7.5 ECTS Capacity: 22 students For more details about this course and for information about deadlines please visit www.nci.uu.se

20. Course Outline • Introductory course on environmental concerns in India with a focus on trends in Indian environmental research with particular emphasis on management of water and forests, history of the environmental movement, and tradeoff between development concerns and those of environmental sustainability • 37 lectures (1 to 1.5 hr duration) + 4 field trips + discussions + viewing films on environmental concerns + library work • Assessment: book report + term paper + one/two written/oral assignments based on one of the field trips

21. Course Outline Field trips: formal and informal E-waste recycling sites, visit to Kolar district, Green buildings, urban slums Excursions: Bangalore City trip + Shravanabelgola + Belur + Halebid or Bangalore + Mysore/Hampi

22. Strengths of the host institution Infrastructure – single occupancy accommodation + catered food + safe drinking water + computer center + internet access + well stocked library Faculty primarily researchers in the field of environmental management and ecological economics. Efficient staff that aim at satisfying every want of the student.

23. Strengths of the course • Does not assume prior knowledge and therefore is open to students from various disciplinary backgrounds • Timely field trips + flexibility in approach • Great introduction to environmental concerns of developing countries and to Indian strategies and visions in the field of environmental management. • Resource persons include policymakers, researchers, and university professors • Use of digital media to further increase awareness of societal ramifications of environmental problems and proposed solutions

24. Strengths of the course cont. • Coherent assessment standards with assignment details given to the students before the course begins, and with assignments spread over the length of the whole four weeks so as to not make the workload too high • Atleast two weekends off for trips to nearby towns and villages of historical interest like Halebid, Belur, Shravanabelgola, Mysore, Hampi, Badami Caves, etc. • Enough time after classes and library hours to get to experience the delights of IT city - Bangalore, or as it is more recently called Bengaluru

25. Basic orientation for potential applicants • Applicants must be truly interested in understanding India, and not come with an intention of playing tourist as the course is a rigorous academic one which demands time, attention, and most importantly regular classroom attendance and participation to justify the 7.5 ECTS • Applicants must realize that the course is set in a different cultural context with different rules of behavior and modes of functioning, very dissimilar to the Nordic sensibility, and therefore, the student must be mentally prepared to handle this different approach to life and learning

26. Basic orientation for potential applicants cont. • Despite the utmost efforts at efficiency and structure, there can be last moment changes in the schedule since there is a certain amount of uncertainty that is tolerated in the Indian context, and that means that the student must consider this when looking at the schedule and not get too perturbed if there are a few changes during the course of the programme • Applicants must also remember that they are in a developing country, and in universities with resources that are a fraction of their home universities, and so one cannot always expect the same standards for example in internet connectivity speed,

27. Basic orientation for potential applicants cont. • Attitude of the faculty can be quite paternal since the student’s health and well being is of paramount concern, more so than the course itself sometimes. Some students find this attitude of the management and the faculty particularly stifling, and therefore, it is better to know that one can expect this kind of interference in one’s independent style of functioning.

28. Basic Procedure with regard to the courses • Have a look at the website and determine programme of interest • Get the name of the contact person of your university/institute, and find out from them the deadline and procedure for applying • After getting the nominations from all member universities, NCI contacts all the selected students • A letter of invitation will then be sent by email and if required by post to selected students from the host institution in India, which will enable student to apply for a visa

29. Basic Procedure with regard to the courses cont. • Orientation letter will be sent from host institution and NCI regarding all the practical matters involved including mode of payment of course fees • Course certificates will be provided by NCI and the host institution for the transfer of 7.5 ECTS as per the requirements of the home university • NCI provides practical support throughout this entire process and you can always write to ChristabelRoyan (christabel.royan@gmail.com), Programme Manager, NCI, with any queries you have about the course

30. Thank You