Exchange Program - Australia & India

Summary

In 2005, The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (ASSA) signed an exchange agreement with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) in Delhi. Research scholars in the social sciences, who are Australian citizens, are eligible to apply to participate in this program. The aims of the program include collaboration between Australian and Indian scholars, the opportunity for access to research and research materials not easily accessible outside the countries concerned and the development of networks of scholars with related interests, both within and between the two countries.

The Academies facilitate visits by scholars to specific research institutes or conferences in India, preferably for periods of one or two weeks. Applicants are strongly discouraged from taking family members with them. The Academy is responsible for international excursion fares to the capital city of the host country and the host provides local transport, meals and accommodation as outlined in the Exchange Agreement.

Scholars accepted under the program are expected to submit a Report to the Academy on their return to Australia. The exchange program is funded by the Australian Government.

The International Program Committee has recommended an application for funding support in 2007 from Professor Lesleyanne Hawthorne, Associate Dean International, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne to visit India under the Australia-India Exchange Program. Professor Hawthorne is researching global skilled migration, in particular, the contribution of foreign medical graduates to global workforce supply. India is a primary source of medical graduates migrating to western countries.

The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has notified ASSA it will be nominating two scholars to visit Australia under the exchange program.

2008 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED - Applications will reopen in 2009 for travel in 2010

Fellows interested in the program should contact William Douglas at the Academy at:

Download the application form.

Program details

The objective of this Program is to develop a better understanding of social sciences in India and in Australia through collaborative research, networks of social scientists, and free and open exchange of relevant information. This collaboration aims at enabling sustained and continuing partnership in the social sciences, thereby promoting high standards of research and excellence in social sciences.

The priorities of this program are:

• to address the pressing current problems in society; to strengthen research capabilities and encourage quality work in India and in Australia through interactions with scholars at institutes in both countries and establishing collaborative research relationships with them;
• to promote multidisciplinary and structurally-oriented social science research in areas of medium- and long-term interest, particularly those related to processes of social change;
• to encourage, and where possible arrange for other forms of interaction and exchange of knowledge and experiences with regard to social issues between the research communities and other groups in the two countries;
• to preserve scholarly rigour and objectivity in research and teaching;
• to encourage an active engagement of scholars from both countries in public debates on issues of national and global significance (one of these main issues being development);
• to encourage and facilitate wider dissemination of research findings;
• to encourage the development of joint initiatives of Indian scholars and scholars in Australia for developing transversal programmes with scholars of other countries.

Both sides will carry on exchanges and cooperation in fields of social sciences and undertake joint research projects. For this purpose, both sides will exchange scholarly visits of all forms on the principle of equality with a yearly maximum to ASSA and the ICSSR of the equivalent of six thousand Australian dollars ($A6,OOO each in total).

Both sides, within their respective scope of research, will encourage cooperation in research in the social sciences in the following forms:

1. To exchange research scholars (not necessarily members of the ICSSR and ASSA) for study and research. It is preferred that:
   • Normally there would be no more than one annual placement of research scholars.
   • Such annual placements will normally be of two weeks' duration per scholar.
   • Sponsorship by a host institution is fundamental and must be arranged in advance by the scholar with the support of the sending side and agreement of the receiving side.
   • Both sides shall facilitate direct contacts between scholars of the two countries. They may also engage the assistance of their respective Embassies if necessary.
   • Research scholars will need to discuss their research project and scholarly interests with a host institution/s and together draw up and submit a suitable program for consideration and approval by the receiving side.

Applications will normally be called for the end September each year.