The Office of Interdisciplinary Studies (IDEAS) at OP Jindal Global University positions itself at the intersection of diverse fields of knowledge within the social sciences. It aims to inhabit this transitional intellectual space, fostering research that emerges between disciplinary boundaries, where convergence of thought, practice, and expertise takes place.
IDEAS occupies a unique intellectual space where disciplinary boundaries dissolve and new forms of knowledge emerge. Recognizing that the most pressing challenges of our time—from climate resilience to social justice, from technological transformation to democratic governance—demand multifaceted approaches, IDEAS seeks to build enduring partnerships that transcend conventional academic silos. Our vision is to create a collaborative ecosystem where diverse institutions, organizations, and thought leaders converge to generate innovative scholarship, develop transformative pedagogies, and produce research with tangible social impact.
IDEAS envisions partnerships built on mutual respect, shared intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to addressing complex societal challenges through interdisciplinary inquiry. We seek partners who recognize that the intersections between disciplines—where sociology meets environmental science, where law engages with anthropology, where economics converges with cultural studies—are fertile grounds for breakthrough insights and innovative solutions.
Our ideal partnerships are characterized by reciprocity, dialogues and co-creation rather than mere collaboration. We welcome engagement with a varied set of partners like research organizations, think tanks, civil society organizations, universities, unions or even independent personas that value methodological pluralism, and are grounded in community knowledge, evidence-based policy, and intellectual risk-taking. These partnerships should enable all parties to expand their capacities, enrich their perspectives, and amplify their impact.
1. Knowledge Exchange and Intellectual Cross-Pollination
At the heart of our partnership vision lies a commitment to creating dynamic spaces for knowledge exchange. IDEAS seeks to establish mechanisms through which faculty, researchers, and practitioners from partner organizations can engage in regular intellectual dialogue—through seminars, workshops, masterclasses in our flagship programs of M.Sc Development Practice and M.Sc Development Studies, visiting scholar programs, and digital platforms. These exchanges should facilitate the circulation of ideas across institutional and geographical boundaries, exposing participants to diverse theoretical frameworks, methodological approaches, and empirical contexts. We envision creating communities of practice where scholars from different disciplinary traditions can learn from one another, challenge each other's assumptions, and collectively develop more nuanced understandings of complex phenomena.
2. Pedagogical Innovation through Interdisciplinary Learning
students to navigate an increasingly complex and interconnected world. This includes designing joint courses and programs that integrate multiple disciplinary perspectives, creating experiential learning opportunities that bridge academic knowledge with practical application, and developing assessment frameworks that value integrative thinking alongside disciplinary expertise.
3. Research Partnerships and Collaborative Knowledge Production
IDEAS seeks to forge substantive research partnerships centered on shared intellectual interests and complementary expertise. We envision collaborations that result in co-authored research proposals, joint publications, shared research infrastructure, and collective pursuit of funding opportunities from national and international agencies. These partnerships should be structured around pressing research questions that benefit from interdisciplinary investigation—questions that individual scholars or single institutions cannot adequately address alone.
We are committed to research that combine theoretical sophistication with practical relevance, and we seek partners who share this orientation. Whether investigating the social dimensions of technological change, exploring innovative approaches to sustainable development, analyzing the dynamics of governance and accountability, or examining the intersections of culture, identity, and justice, our research partnerships should produce scholarship that advances both academic knowledge and societal well-being.
Building meaningful partnerships requires intentionality, transparency, and sustained engagement. We propose initiating partnerships through exploratory dialogues that identify areas of mutual interest and complementary strengths. These conversations should lead to formal Letters of Understanding that articulate shared goals, delineate collaborative activities, and establish governance structures for partnership management.
Successful partnerships will be characterized by clear communication channels, regular evaluation of collaborative outcomes, flexibility to adapt as institutional priorities evolve, and commitment to equitable distribution of resources, responsibilities, and recognition. IDEAS is prepared to invest time and resources in cultivating partnerships that promise genuine intellectual enrichment and lasting impact.
We invite organizations that share our commitment to interdisciplinary excellence, collaborative knowledge production, and socially engaged scholarship to join us in building this transformative vision.
A Letter of Understanding (LOU) has been signed with A Trust for India’s Nature (ATIN) and IDEAS on 18 July 2025. ATIN is a community science initiative working with climate change questions in the western Himalayas. The partnership seeks to enable joint working relationship on questions of socio-ecological monitoring of climate change (in the Kumaon region); participatory biodiversity research & education programs; synthesizing and making a repository of field-based pan-India research data on biodiversity; and knowledge generation and dissemination on social ecological issues.
The Roots to Branches Foundation is a not–for-profit Section 8 Company with a mandate to support and strengthen the development sector in the Northeast region. As a resource organisation, we train, incubate, handhold, mentor and collectivise to build dynamic institutions. The primary work of strengthening the development sector had been initiated in 2007 under the aegis of the ant (a rural development organisation based in Bodoland region of Western Assam).
IDEAS has signed an MoU with the FLAME Centre for Legislative Action and Research, strengthening collaborative research with the Centre for Data Insights. This partnership centers on the India State Story Project—our major initiative to build and enrich historical, social, economic, and spatial datasets at the state, district, and subdistrict levels.
Working Peoples’ Charter- a network of more than 150 provincial, local organizations of informal workers, was founded in 2013 to fulfil this vacuum. The Charter believes in the capacity building of network members. This will help the members' wage struggles at the provincial and national levels.
Navjyoti aims to develop the underprivileged segments of the society affected by crimes by gradually transcending them to an environment that is encouraging. They work towards facilitating each child and citizen with access to quality education, facilitate equal rights and dignity of all segments with an endeavour to make them employable. NIF fosters scientific programs and policies as platforms for enabling better health and nutrition to communities and aid communities to adopt better standards and envision a better life for the future generations
Youth for Social Development (YSD) is a development organisation working with the duty bearers and rights holders to enhance the quality of life for both urban and rural underprivileged populations in the state of Odisha, India. YSD India prioritizes the well- being of resource-poor and marginalised communities, with a special emphasis on Dalit and Adivasi populations, as well as children, youth, and women, who form the cornerstone of our initiatives. Working together to avail basic services, empowering the communities on the margin and nudging the local governments and elected representatives – through research, advocacy and training – constitute the core of their approach.
Ideosync Media works towards integrating communication methodologies into development and social change programs, and to equip communities and NGOs with techniques and technology to support communities with access to information and communication skills & tools. They also work on developing communication strategies, training development workers and informing media policy to support multi-sectoral developmental initiatives by government agencies, NGOs, bilateral aid agencies and UN agencies.
The Reporters’ Collective collaboratively produces investigative journalism in many languages and mediums. RC aims to report truthfully and bring out facts that the powerful prefer to keep hidden from citizens. Primarily their objective is to report on stories that put the spotlight on those in power and to shed light on how India's political economy and governance functions. The Reporters’ Collective work closely with other news organisations to produce their work in different mediums and in multiple languages.
Mehnatkash Association is a firm that focuses on the rights of gig workers, and advocates for formalizing the sector. Their work includes ensuring that the voice of the gig workers are heard by relevant stakeholders, including the public. The team works closely with registered members from the gig economy to learn more about the problems faced by them and offer solutions. They also perform advocacy demonstrations including the working group members to raise their issues. Recently, they have submitted a memorandum to the Labour Minister regarding the improvements prerequisite for their welfare. Their aim to formalize and regulate rights for the workers engaged in the gig economy.
They are a youth-led organization fueled by the passion and dedication of young leaders and facilitators who believe in the transformative power of theatre. Together, we create an immersive world where young minds can break down barriers, ignite dialogue, and spark impactful change.
