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CCUSLAS Canadian Programme

CCUSLAS Canadian Programme

Introduction

Canadian Studies Programme (CSP) of the School of International Studies (SIS) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, is a full-fledged Area Studies programme on Canada. The first of its own kind, CSP is a taught-cum-research programme at the Masters' and Doctoral level on contemporary Canada.

CSP was formally launched in the academic year 2001-02. Together with US and Latin American Studies Programmes, CSP constitutes the Centre for Canadian, US & Latin American Studies in SIS. The School of International Studies administers one of the largest area study and international studies programmes in India and admittedly in the developing world. In brief, CSP is one among the several premier area study programmes in SlS.

 

Objectives of the CSP

  • To develop and expand inter-disciplinary studies in Canadian Studies including facilitating research and scholarly activity on Canada and contribute further to the tradition of Canadian Studies in India.

  • To provide an outreach programme to the wider community including scholarly conferences/ workshops, field trips and developing curricula for under- and post-graduate studies on Canada in order to raise awareness about Canadian affairs in India.

  • To foster productive exchanges between Indian and Canadian scholarship on themes of mutual interest with a view to improving India-Canada bilateral relations.

In consonance with the objectives of JNU, the CSP aims at developing a pool of scholarly expertise on the foreign policy dynamics and international relations of Canada; and to the extent necessary on the history, society, economy and politics of contemporary Canada.

 

Teaching and Research Programme at CSP

  • Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) in Canadian Studies-a four-semester programme spread over two academic calendar years of which two semesters are for course work and two semesters for preparation of a dissertation.

  • Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Canadian Studies-an eight-semester programme spread over four academic calendar years for the completion of thesis work.

Admissions to both the programmes are made on the basis of University prescribed procedures, including an all-India entrance examination held in forty-two centres in India and abroad.

Besides M. Phil and Ph.D., CSP also offers two elective courses at the Master's level for students doing post-graduate studies across the University.

 

Course Offerings of CSP

CSP offers the following courses at the M.Phil / Ph.D. level:

AW-648 Foreign Policy of Canada

AW-649 Government and Politics in Canada

AW-650 Multiculturalism, Indigenism and Diasporic Aspects of Canadian Society

AW-651 Political Economy of Canada

AW-623 Research Methodology

 

CSP offers the following elective course at the M.A level:

IS 585 N Canada in World Affairs

 

Co-Curricular Activities of CSP

Besides the "taught" programmes, CSP

  • Encourages students to undertake field research through modest funding provided by the University as well as short-study fellowships offered by funding agencies, importantly the Indo-Canadian Shastri Institute.

  • Holds lectures by visiting scholars and dignitaries from Canada.

  • Organises periodically bi-national and international conferences/seminars under the joint sponsorship with the federal government of Canada and other funding agencies on themes of contemporary relevance.

     

International Seminars/Conferences held

  • Co-organised Bi-national Seminar on 'India-Quebec Dialogue' with University of Montreal, Montreal, 7-9 November 2011.

  • Organised International Conference on 'Afghanistan Crisis and Reconstruction: Domestic, Regional and International Dimensions', India International Centre, New Delhi, 31 January - 1 February 2008.

  • Co-organised International Conference on 'Multiculturalism: Public Policy and Problem Areas in Canada and India' with University of Montreal, India International Centre, New Delhi, 5-7 December 2005.

  • Organised International conference on 'Canada's Global Engagements in the 21st Century' at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 9-10 May 2002.

     

Areas of Research

Identified areas of research of CSP are both academic and policy-oriented. They are:

  • Canada's Middle Power Profile

  • Canada's Global Security Concerns including Human Security, Peace-keeping and Peace-building Activities and Policies

  • Canada's Economic Aid, Trade and Investment; Regional Integration: Policies and Problem Areas

  • Canada's Multiculturalism; Quebec 'Question'--Identity and Nationalism; Indigenous People-Governance and Movements

  • Canada's Federalism--Trends and Issues; Ethnicity; Fiscal

  • Federalism

  • Canada's Parliamentary System, Political Parties and Social Movements, Decision-Making and Policy-Development

  • Gender Issues

  • Canada-India Bilateral Relations

  • Canada's Role in International Organisations and Regional Cooperation Mechanisms.

     

Library Resources

JNU's Central library along with the specialized libraries, such as the EXIM Bank library has rich holdings of books, back-files of scholarly research journals and downloading facility for a number of electronic journals and archival material. Besides, through institutional arrangement the holdings of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, efforts are afoot to set up a text book section.

 

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.