Transcending the Obvious : Explorations of Contemporary India.

The Institute of Professional Studies, University of Allahabad is organizing a lecture of series - Transcending the Obvious : Explorations of Contemporary India. The inaugural lecture of the series would be delivered by eminent sociologist and thinker Professor Anand Kumar. He will speak on People, Power and the Paradigm Shift : New Trajectories of Politics and Governance in Indian Society in the Liberalization, Privatization and Globalization (LPG) era. The series would start on 28^th March 2011 and the venue is AU Guest House Conference Hall.

The inaugural lecturer Dr. Anand Kumar began his academic career by joining the Banaras Hindu University (Varanasi) as a lecturer in sociology in 1979. He joined the Centre for the Study of Social Systems as Associate Professor at the School of Social Sciences at Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) in 1990. He has also served as Secretary of the B.H.U. Teachers Association (1981) and as Secretary (1993) and President (1997) of the JNU Teachers Association. He has been a visiting scholar at M.S.H. (Paris) and at the Institute of Sociology of Albert-Ludwigs University (Freiburg).

Currently, he is coordinating Globalisation Study Circle at J. N. U. - a discussion and research group engaged in study of the socio-cultural dynamics of globalization process.

The Institute of Professional Studies was set up in June 2000 by the Executive Council of the University of Allahabad under Section 44 of the University of Allahabad Act, 2005. The basic objective is to develop linkages between the ‘World of Learning’ and the ‘World of Work’ through professional courses. The Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) has been created to mobilise and utilise the academic resources and the infrastructure of the University to provide short, medium and long-term professional courses on self-financing basis under the aegis of Centres dedicated to specific areas. Presently the

.     Centre of Food Technology

·                            Centre of Computer Education

·                            Centre of Fashion Design & Technology

·                            Centre of Media Studies

Within a short span of five years, the Institute has established four centres with excellent infrastructure. The enrolment has risen from 67 (2000-01) to 1226 (2008-09) and the revenue from Rs. 3.6 lakhs (2000-01) to Rs. 1.65 crores (2008-09). The students have found placements with prominent multinational and national organizations. The unique feature of this Institute is its engagement with society through entrepreneurship development programmes in areas of food processing, garment designing, innovative software etc.

The academic programmes of the Institute are run in collaboration with IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Kanpur, National Dairy Research Institute-Karnal, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research-Varanasi, Aquamal Water Lab-Bhimtal, FRAC-Lucknow, SPARC-Mumbai, etc. The Institute has received financial support for infrastructure development from University Grants Commission and Govt. of India, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

It is visualized that the Institute of Professional Studies would in near future be an institute of academic excellence known for its total commitment to superiority in technical education with the holistic concern for quality in life, environment, society and ethics.

Prateek Pathak

Student

B.A in Media Studies

University of Allahabad