The 13th International Conference on Victim Assistance was held at JGU from November 11 to 12. The conference was hosted by the Centre for Victimology & Psychological Studies (CVPS), Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS). The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Emerging Trends in Victimology & Victim Assistance’.

The conference was inaugurated by Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU, in the presence of Mr. Michael O’Connell AM APM, Consulting Victimologist, Vice Chair, NGO Alliance on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice (UN Vienna); Mr. Levent Altan, Executive Director, Victim Support Europe Brussels Area, Belgium; Mr. Indika Siriwardena, Director, Policy and Programmes, National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, Sri Lanka; Prof. (Dr.) Xin Ren, Professor, Division of Criminal Justice California State University, Sacramento, USA; Prof. (Dr.) Pulkit Khanna, Dean, JIBS; and Dr. Vipin Vijay Nair, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, CVPS.

The conference featured keynote speakers, expert panels, and discussions addressing various facets of victimology and victim support. It aimed to provide a chance to engage with professionals, scholars, and thought leaders from around the world who are committed to advancing the field of victim assistance.

Masterclass held at JIBS

JIBS organised a masterclass on ‘Starting and Running a Mental Health Service Organization? Navigating the Administrative and Legal Aspects’. The masterclass was conducted by Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Executive Director, Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses; Mr. Subimal Banerjee, Project Coordinator, Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses; and Dr. Alok Kumar Bhuwan, Founder, Manovikas Charitable Society.

The masterclass was joined by founders and directors of two prominent mental health service organisations, giving attendees first-hand experience in the field of mental health services.  The masterclass provided an overview of the administrative and legal requirements for starting and day-to-day functioning of these mental health organisations catering to people with substance abuse disorders and developmental disabilities.

JIBS film wins another laurel

Uljhan, an original documentary produced by JIBS, has achieved another milestone by being named a finalist at the prestigious China Dragon Awards, hosted by the China International Conference of Science and Education Producers.

Out of over 650 submissions from more than 70 countries, Uljhan secured its spot among the top few entries which advanced to the final judging session. It is a poignant 40-minute documentary that delves deep into the lives of families raising children on the autism spectrum in India. The documentary confronts societal misconceptions, highlights the relentless efforts of families, and showcases the critical role of grassroots organisations in destigmatising autism.

Prof. (Dr.) Pulkit Khanna delivers talk at Open House

Prof. (Dr.) Pulkit Khanna, Dean, JIBS, spoke at the Open House on ‘Explore a World of Opportunities at O.P. Jindal Global University’. The session was held in Bengaluru on November 16. The Open House aimed at reaching out to young students and parents, explaining the academic opportunities available at JGU, particularly in the field of psychology.

Dr. Pulkit spoke about the importance of an interdisciplinary approach in academics and the opportunities available at JGU. She said interdisciplinarity is a powerful approach that breaks down traditional academic boundaries, fostering collaboration and innovation. By combining knowledge and methods from diverse fields, interdisciplinary studies enable a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues, while equipping learners with the skills needed to address real-world problems, making them well-prepared for the challenges of the 21st century, she remarked.