Academic Programmes in a Nutshell
The IUCSSRE functions through two core divisions: the Gender Studies and Women Empowerment Division, and the Human Ecology–Human Geography Division. These divisions guide the Centre’s research agenda across a range of themes, including gender studies, social theory, social praxis, human ecology, human geography, social history, migration, labour, and local governance. To advance research skills and academic dialogue, IUCSSRE conducts Social Science research methodology workshops for faculty members and emerging scholars. The Centre has also organised focused workshops on tribal issues, labour conditions, and gender concerns, creating a platform for informed discussion and knowledge sharing. In addition, IUCSSRE hosts a regular series of public lectures, seminars, Erudite Lectures, and Memorial Lectures. Many of these programmes are organised in partnership with institutions such as the Kerala Council for Historical Research (KCHR), the Kerala Institute for Local Administration (KILA), the Gulati Institute for Finance and Taxation (GIFT), the Kerala Grama Panchayat Association, International Institute of Migration and Development, etc. A strong commitment to community engagement shapes the Centre’s work beyond the campus. IUCSSRE undertakes extension activities in capacity building, community development, tribal welfare, and women empowerment, translating research insights into meaningful field interventions. These activities, together with the Centre’s academic initiatives and outcomes, are presented annually in its institutional report.
The PhD programme at IUCSSRE offers course work across a wide range of fields. Current courses include Interdisciplinary Social Science Methodology, Sustainable Rural Livelihood, Gender Participation in Common Resource Management, Spatial Logic of Urbanization, and the History and Social Anthropology of Urban Space. An open course on Gender and Society is also offered to broaden the learning experience. The course structure of the PhD programme has been revised periodically in line with the UGC framework. The redesign, which includes core courses, elective courses, and the open course, aims to strengthen academic standards and ensure that each component supports the research goals and professional growth of the scholars. At present, seven research scholars are pursuing their PhD at IUCSSRE. The following candidates have been awarded PhD degree in recent years:
(a) Mr. Santhosh T. Kaleb, for the thesis Metamorphosis of Waterscape into Greenscape: Reclamation in Vembanad Waterbody, under the supervision of Prof. S. Raju, Adjunct Faculty, IUCSSRE.
(b) Mr. Shine P. S., for the thesis Dalit Land Movements, Media and Citizenship in Contemporary Kerala, under the supervision of Prof. P. Sanal Mohan, Adjunct Faculty, IUCSSRE.
(c) Mr. Shynu V. C., for the thesis Intra-community Relationship: Nomadic and Colonised (Sedentariness) Malaipandarams, under the supervision of Dr. Rajesh Komath, Adjunct Faculty, IUCSSRE.
1.2. Dr. Anil Gopi, a Post-Doctoral Fellow under the Chief Minister’s Nava Kerala Postdoctoral Fellowship, completed his research project at IUCSSRE. His work was titled Human Ecology, Indigenous Knowledge and Survival of Communities: An Anthropological Study of Idukki District, Kerala. The study was carried out under the mentorship of Dr. Mathew Varghese, Adjunct Faculty at IUCSSRE and Assistant Professor at the School of International Relations and Politics. Dr. Gopi undertook extensive fieldwork in the districts of Idukki and Kannur and submitted a detailed report based on his findings.
Dr. Jestin T. Varghese joined IUCSSRE as a Post-Doctoral Fellow under the Global Penn Programme of the University of Pennsylvania. His research focuses on the Kerala Maritime Communities Project (KMCP), which studies the history, ecology, and cultural life of coastal and maritime communities in Kerala.
The Kerala State Higher Education Council sanctioned three Chief Minister’s Nava Kerala Post-Doctoral Fellowships (Mode-1) to IUCSSRE. The following scholars are working under the scheme:
Dr. Anitha Isac – Riverside Tourism and Livelihood: Sustainable Practices and the Meenachil River Conservation – Dr. Ajay M. G. – Labour, Marginalized Communities and Economic Empowerment under MGNREGS in Kerala – Dr. Dinoop K. – Human Mobility, Return Migration, and Reintegration Challenges in Kerala
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