WHY A CONCLAVE ON INDIAN EDUCATION?

Indian education with its complexities and paradoxes has attracted the attention of young scholars all over the world. The canvas of research on Indian education stretches from the ideas of Tagore, Gandhi and Krishnamurthy, ethnographic studies of children in slums, econometric modeling of participation in schooling to politics of curricular content, privatization and external aid. Diverse disciplinary approaches, theoretical and ideological orientations, and methodologies have been adopted to paint this canvas. However, the majority of scholars researching Indian education in India and abroad seem to work largely independent of each other even though they may be examining similar issues. Opportunities to undertake collaborative research, to affiliate with each other’s institutions, to go on sabbaticals, and to participate in international conferences and seminars tend to be limited to renowned scholars. There is an urgent need to bridge this chasm between those researching Indian education in universities and research institutes in India and elsewhere in the world.

WHO IS THE CONCLAVE FOR?

The first Global Concave of Young Scholars of Indian Education to be held in New Delhi on 27-29, January 2011 presents a unique opportunity for young scholars (doctoral and post-doctoral researchers and early-career faculty) working on any aspect of Indian education in universities and research institutes in India and abroad to come together, to share and to showcase their research, to network and to publish across boundaries of nations and disciplines. The young scholars will also have the benefit of critique and advice from senior, renowned scholars who shall be invited to give special lectures, to comment on the current status of educational research, to suggest directions for future research, and to discuss the selected papers. Those under 35 years of age are particularly encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY?

Given the wide canvas of research on Indian education, the theme for the conclave is open-ended. Papers are invited on any aspect of Indian education. The papers may explore theoretical and ideological orientations, empirical realities, issues of method, design and disciplinary boundaries. They could focus exclusively on Indian education or present comparisons with other countries. In the first instance, abstracts of 300-500 words (including statement of the problem, research strategy and findings) along with contact information, designation, institutional affiliation, disciplinary background and one page CV should be submitted by email to nuepa.conclave@nuepa.org and nuepa.conclave@gmail.com by 25 August 2010. Successful candidates shall be informed by 15 September 2010. Full research papers shall be solicited from the successful candidates by 15 November 2010. All abstract and paper submissions should be formatted in Times New Roman font, size 12, and spaced 1.5 lines. Both abstracts and papers shall be subject to a process of peer review.  Papers that lend themselves to publication will be selected for submission as a special issue in an internationally reputed peer-reviewed journal.