Part of the charm of studying at a global university is that you become a global resident. That’s how it has been for Irchard Mahomed at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). Irchard was popular among both local and international student communities. In fact, with support from the then Director of the International Office at JGU, Mr. Aman Shah, this student who is a Mozambique national offered Portuguese language classes to students, faculty, and staff on campus, which further boosted his popularity. ‘JGU exposed me to a whole new world of possibilities,’ he says with a smile. Putting to good use the opportunities that came his way, Irchard is now making a name for himself in academia.
Irchard works as a lecturer at Instituto Superior de Relações Internacionais – ISRI, where he teaches Energy Diplomacy and Security, and International Relations Theory. In the past three years, he has also worked as a part-time faculty member at Instituto Superior de Comunicação e Imagem de Moçambique (ISCIM) where he taught Public Relations and Negotiations. His teachers and colleagues at Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), where he did his MA in Diplomacy, Law, and Business, have inspired him, shares Irchard. Talking about his Dean, Professor Sreeram Chaulia, who guided his dissertation, Irchard says, ‘He expected nothing less than high-quality work and, as a mentor, provided extensive support and guidance.’
According to Irchard, his time at JGU was defined by professional and personal learning. He could realize the importance of pursuing personal interests with complete passion. Since then, while following his academic career, he has also pursued interests that have led to personal growth. He has received training from different institutes on a number of subjects including Maritime Security (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile, and Instituto Superior de RelaçõesInternacionais), Psychopedagogy (Pedagogical University Foundation), and Sukuk – Shariah and Operational Aspects (Islamic Research and Training Institute, Islamic Development Bank, and Higher Institute of Communication of Mozambique).
Recently, Irchard represented the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Maputo International Trade Fair. He has also founded the Academia de InvestigaçãoMarítima, Energética e International, a private institution dedicated to research, consulting, and publishing in international affairs, and maritime and energy studies. A journal on international affairs and maritime and energy studies is also in the pipeline. He doesn’t want to limit his achievements and growth to one area; something he learned at JGU. His university experience has left an indelible mark on him. Not surprisingly, he is keen on starting the JGU alumni chapter in Mozambique, home to 35 JGU alumni. Now that’s another side to a truly global university experience.
