Centre for Development Studies: Looking to the future, evolving strategies to meet present-day challenges

CDS is evolving strategies for research and financial self-sufficiency while maintaining original mandate, exploring new programmes and training opportunities.

The Centre for Development Studies (CDS) is evolving strategies to satisfy present-day requirements from the twin perspectives of research-oriented academics and financial self-sufficiency, but without diluting the institute’s original mandate, C. Veeramani, the director of the institute, has said.

Speaking to The Hindu against the backdrop of the recently-celebrated birth centenary of K.N. Raj, the eminent economist who founded CDS over five decades ago, Prof. Veeramani said that the institute is currently tossing some ideas around, given the National Education Policy (NEP) requirements and the shrinkage in funding faced by academic institutions in general.

In the context of NEP, CDS is considering the possibility that it may have to restructure its two-year MA in Applied Economics programme, which was started in 2012. With four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) set to become the norm, Prof. Veeramani feels that there may not be many takers for a two-year Masters in future.

Two options

“After a few years, the two- year MA programme may lose its relevance. In such a scenario, we may either have to restructure it as a one-year programme, or, possibly, introduce a five-year, integrated programme. We’ve only had some informal discussions in this regard, though. Nothing has been finalised, nor any proposal given to the government,” he said.

If at all the CDS decides to go with the second option – that of a five-year, integrated programme – it will be established as a separate self-financing unit that does not hinder the core research activities of the institute, he said. CDS is also exploring the possibility of a series of short-term training programmes on self-financing mode broadly connected to its core strengths.

“We are planning one on big data analytics and application of machine learning in economics research. These are areas where we can create skills,” Prof. Veeramani said.

These training programmes, he said, will not place a burden on the CDS faculty, although they will have the option of participating. Such programmes are also expected to build CDS’s capacity to financially sustain itself in the long run.

Inaugurating the K.N. Raj centenary celebrations on October 20, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had encouraged CDS to institute the annual ‘Development Researchers’ Day’ on February 10 in Prof. Raj’s honour. Internal discussions are under way to evolve a set of programmes in his regard, Prof. Veeramani said.

Getting feedback

At the same time, CDS has plans to launch an “intensive capacity building programme” for PhD researchers who work on development-related areas across India. “Students pursuing their PhDs can come to CDS, stay here, attend lectures and get a chance to present their work and get valuable feedback,” he said.

One of the premier research institutes in the area of social science research and developmental studies, CDS was established on October 19, 1970. In recent decades, CDS has widened its scope of research to newer areas. The institute draws financial support chiefly from the Kerala Government and the Indian Council of Social Science Research.

The Prof. Raj centenary celebrations held from October 19 to October 22 had drawn alumni from all over. “The event was a big success. It also helped to bridge the gap between the older alumni and the present crop of students,” Prof. Veeramani – himself an ‘old boy’ of CDS, having done his MPhil and PhD there – said.

Published - October 27, 2024 07:15 pm IST