Call for Expression of Interest to participate in GCRF- IndOx thematic workshops
Date: 28th February 2020
Venue: Oxford Martin school, University of Oxford
Background:
The India-Oxford initiative (IndOx) is a cross-divisional platform at Oxford, promoting research and academic collaboration and exchanges between the Indian subcontinent and Oxford. IndOx has recently announced two successful applications for conducting ODA relevant, multidisciplinary thematic workshops. The IndOx initiative invites expression of interest (EOI) from colleagues and researchers across the university to participate and contribute to the two thematic workshops. The objective is to promote inter-disciplinary dialogue by bringing in together a range of researchers working across different disciplines. The details of the two workshops are provided below:
Workshop 1: Empowering Women and Girls: Women's Mental Health and Violence
Background and objectives:
Gender inequality remains a major barrier to human development in India. Discrimination against women and girls inhibits their freedom and potential. To begin to address this problem, this workshop will focus on violence and mental health as a key theme. Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls requires taking a systems approach that brings together an understanding of historical and cultural as well as environmental and policy factors.
The key objectives of the workshop are:
- Share knowledge and learn lessons from each other on issues and interventions related to SDG5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Foster an interdisciplinary approach to identifying research areas and funding to tackle the related issues.
- Build a vibrant and inter-disciplinary research community to work on topics related to women and girls in India
- Bridge the gap between academics and practitioners from different disciplines to identify opportunities to work collaboratively to provide appropriate evidence and effective interventions to achieve gender equality and empower women and girls in India
- Workshop methodology and session details:
The first part of the workshop would consist of briefly pitching the ideas the participants have brought to the group to engender discussion and debate. The next step would be to agree on two or three possible themes/ideas of priority and interest to take forward. This will be followed by a structured discussion in groups for each identified idea/theme to explore opportunities to collaborate and draw up an outline of next steps. The final step would be for the groups to come together and feedback the discussion and outputs of the groups. This will then be collated and written up as a report to include the research area, collaborators and next steps.
Workshop organisers:
Professor Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History, Director of the Asian Studies Centre
Dr. Senthil Vasan, Postdoctoral Researcher, Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Nuffield Department of Medicine
Workshop 2: Heritage and Enquiry-based learning in urban Primary schools in India
Background and Objectives:
To stimulate debate and discussion, from multidisciplinary perspectives, drawing on recent cutting-edge projects across the themes of heritage and education in the context of urban primary schools in India in order to realise the significant potential of urban heritage as a stimulus for rich and engaging curriculum development. This workshop focuses on the often-conflicted relationships between cultural heritage and urban education agendas in India and aims to contribute to improved social cohesion and inclusion which values and conserves the heritage assets of all, including migrant communities. Focusing on the intersections between heritage and education, this workshop will address SDGs 4 and 11 in particular, contributing to longer-term sustainable urban development through citizens with greater awareness of the multiple layers of rich cultural heritages around which they are educated.
Workshop methodology and session details:
The workshop will be interactive and participatory to maximise the opportunity to creatively interact with ideas and contributors. Each session will have discussions. Following are the highlights of the session:
There will be a welcome coffee alongside summary poster presentations of emerging findings from ongoing projects linking heritage, enquiry-based learning, and the current status of low attainment in Indian public schools.
A presentation from each contributor on their specialist area of expertise, followed by debate and skype contributions from international collaborators.
Digital representations of cultural heritage (photo/video/interactive GIS/poetry recital) will be used to facilitate working in cross-disciplinary groups.
Workshop organisers:
1. Dr. Steven Puttick, Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Education, SSD
2. Dr. Camillo Formigatti, John Clay Sanskrit Librarian, Clay Sanskrit Library, GLAM
How to submit EOI:
The EOI needs to be submitted by the applicant with the following information:
1. Please send a brief note on why would you like to attend this workshop
2. Please share your complete details including your name, department and divisional affiliation, area of research work and your contact details.
Please submit the information at athis.vadivale@tss.ox.ac.uk or tina.khanna@sant.ox.ac.uk
Deadline:
Please submit the EOI by 30th January 2020.
