The Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA) of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) and Youth Forum on Foreign Policy (YFFP) have commenced a foreign policy fellowship, the ‘YFFP-Jindal Foreign Policy Fellowship Programme’.
The fellowship aims to establish an interface between young researchers, experienced practitioners and scholars from different areas of expertise within the field of international relations.
The first batch of eight fellows has been selected from across India and SAARC countries through a competitive and rigorous process. The university will offer 18 fellowships in a period of three years.
The fellows will generate high quality research output on issues such as South Asian politics, regional economic integration, international media and culture, energy security, cyber security and climate change.
“The purpose of this fellowship is to stimulate students to reflect on foreign policy. The subjects chosen by these young Fellows are topical and contemporary, the need of the hour is innovation and a fresh approach which is what these young scholars will bring,” said Ambassador Nalin Surie, Director General, Indian Council of World Affairs.
“What is holding Indian universities behind is not the lack of human resources but the lack of quality research and knowledge creation,” said Gaurav Gogoi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Founder Secretary, YFFP in a statement.
“Our universities should take a lead in designing socioeconomic and foreign policy ideas and plans, and help eliminate the current dependency on consultancies. The need of the hour is for universities to contribute, advise and significantly aid governments in decision making in the fields of domestic and foreign policies.”
JSIA is a global policy school training students in international economics and politics. YFFP is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit initiative that seeks to develop an informed and substantive dialogue on foreign policy.