Academic Collaborations
The Department firmly believes that academic and research collaboration immensely helps in improving research skills as well as the overall quality of the work, as it not only helps the faculty in getting access to new research and teaching tools, but also broadens students’ knowledge and aptitude. The national and international level collaborations in both the teaching and research domain, with universities, research institutions and other governmental and non-governmental organizations is one of the core strengths of the Department. Such collaborations span the entire range of activities and programs including Public lectures, special lectures and talks by scholars, activists and practitioners belonging to different fields from all parts of India as much as other countries; seminars, workshops and conferences to the collaborative research projects and special teaching programs such as the U-21 program.
The Department engages in a number of collaborative activities with collaborative agencies placed in different parts of the world like University of Melbourne, Australia; University of Birmingham, UK; Uppsala University, Sweden; Bhulan University, Bangladesh; Royal University of Bhutan, Bhutan; Nanjing University, PR China; University of Science and Technology of China, PR China; Bogor Agricultural University (IPB Bogor), Indonesia; Kathmandu University, Nepal; Tribhuvan University, Nepal; Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan; University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka; Kasetsart University, Thailand; Visayas State University, The Philippines; The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), The Philippines; AGRINATURA, Czech Republic; and many more. These collaborative activities are funded by some of the world’s top most institutions like European Commission, European Union, British Council’s Trilateral Research in Partnership (TRIP) Awards and UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI), Leverhulme Trust, UK, World International Studies Committee (WISC), Germany, Maulana Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata (MAKAIS), UGC-CAS Special Assistance Programme, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).
Teaching
U-21 (Universitas-21) for special module as part of the Masters Program
U-21 Advanced International Studies is a major teaching collaborative activity of the Department for the Masters’ students for the period of five years (2011-2016). It involves the study of an approved topic in global public policy and international relations. The collaborative Universities in the U-21 Teaching Program are University of Melbourne, University of Birmingham and University of Delhi. The Department has collaborated in the following teaching module under this program:
Traditional and New Security Challenges: South Asia in Global Perspective
Course convener from the Department: Prof. Navnita C. Behera and Dr. Nasreen Chowdhory
This subject explores changing understandings and practices of security in the contemporary globalised world, and examines their relevance and application to the South Asian regional context. It equips students to understand how security thinking and practice have evolved in response to critiques and new ideas, dynamic and changing political circumstances, and new and emerging forms of global, transnational and local insecurity. The subject contrasts traditional state-centric, military-based and externally-oriented forms of national and international security with broader and deeper interpretations, including critical and human security approaches. It then examines a range of traditional and non-traditional security challenges that are prevalent in today’s globalised environment, with specific reference to South Asia. The subject has an interdisciplinary orientation, drawing upon Political Science, International Relations, and Development Studies, and combines specialised academic knowledge with insights from expert South Asian security practitioners.
U21 Delhi Subject Guide 2020
U21 Delhi Subject Guide 2019
U21 Delhi Subject Guide 2018
Module Handbook: 2017
Teaching, Research and International Policy (TRIP) Survey
Conducted by the College of William and Mary, USA. It attempts to describe and explain changes in the IR discipline and also explores the relationship between the academic and policy worlds.
The TRIP project creates new datasets and analyzes the relationships between research, teaching, and policy and politics.
Research
Bridging the Divide: Revisiting the Discrepancy between Policy and Practice in Environmental Management in the Context of Asia (2024-25)
The special issue titled "Bridging the Divide: Revisiting the Discrepancy between Policy and Practice in Environmental Management in the Context of Asia," slated for publication in the Autumn 2025 issue of the Scopus-indexed journal Asian Politics and Policies, represents a significant academic collaboration between Dr. Avantika Singh from the Department of Political Science at the University of Delhi and Dr. Natalie Wong from the Department of Public Administration at National Chengchi University, Taiwan. Both scholars serve as guest editors for this issue, aiming to address critical gaps in environmental policy and governance across Asia. This collaboration is further spotlighted by a workshop held at National Chengchi University from October 21 to 22, 2024, where Dr. Singh, alongside other contributors from the University of Delhi's Department of Political Science—Dr. Abhishek Choudhary, Dr. Robert Mizo, and Dr. Ningthoujam Koiremba Singh—presented their research. This initiative is set to advance scholarly dialogue on environmental management and governance in Asia, bridging the gap between policy and practice through interdisciplinary and regionally grounded perspectives.
Nyaya-Global Justice Program, UKIERI Project (2013-2015)
Project Coordinator from the Department: Prof. Ashok Acharya
This project is part of UKIERI Trilateral Research Partnerships funded by British Council’s Trilateral with collaboration of University of Delhi, University of Birmingham and Yale University. The Nyaya Global Justice Programme is a major intellectual hub for the study of international ethical questions which have strong implications for India and neighbouring countries. These include questions around India’s role in the World Trade Organization, G20 and United Nations Security Council, fairness in international trade, cooperation in poverty reduction efforts, and ethics in global security issues.
Continuity and Change in Indian Federalism, Leverhulme Network Grant, 2014-2016
Project Coordinator from the Department: Prof. Rekha Saxena
This project explores the dynamics of centre-state relations in India since 1989. The project is a result of collaboration between University of Delhi, University of Edinburgh, University of Nottingham, University of Burdwan, University of Bristol, University of Hyderabad, Central University of Haryana, Mahendragarh. It is funded by Leverhulme Trust, UK.
Workshop held on 5-6 December 2016
Inculcating Ontological Competence: Seeing the World/Cosmos through Multiple Ontological Lenses, 2016
Project Coordinator from the Department: Prof. Navnita C. Behera
The aim of this project is “thinking IR differently.” The task, is to find ways to consider and appreciate other ways of knowing and wisdom and the various realities generated through these forms of knowing, which historically have been discredited through the lens of Western-style academia. Doing this effectively requires being able to recognize the ontological assumptions that inform these other ways of knowing in contrast to one’s own assumptions and a basic grasp of how one’s own ontological assumptions have given shape to one’s particular conceptualizations of knowledge/knowing. Since international relations as a field of study specializes in examining how the peoples of the world interact, honing these capabilities among IR scholars is critical for comprehensively contemplating the complexities, richness and frictions generated through the interactions among people and other living beings who engage and co-create their existences in distinct fashions. This project offers both junior and senior scholars of International Relations the opportunity to take a step back from a specific focus on IR to engage with ontology directly. The collaborating agencies for this project are Department of Political Science, Delhi University, World International Studies Committee (WISC) at University of Gothe, Germany, Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador and Maulana Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
Workshop held on 14-15 January 2016
Systems of Relatedness, Culture and Vulnerability in Transition: Dalit Life-Worlds in Post-Liberalized India, 2015-2017
Project Coordinator from the Department: Prof. N. Sukumar
This project is funded by Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Delhi. It is a collaboration of University of Delhi, Lausanne University, Switzerland, Ambedkar University and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee College, Delhi University.
