Psychology collaboration

The Department of Psychology has just played host to the renowned psychology academic, Professor Janak Pandey of the University of Allahabad, India, who was finalising details of a new course that will run in India next year. The Indian Consul General, Mr P.S. Randhawa, Professor James Calderhead and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Chris Whatley joined Pandey in welcoming the new collaborative teaching and research programme between the two universities.

Following a sabbatical visit to India, the department's social psychologist Dr Nick Hopkins, together with Professor Janak Pandey, set about developing a programme of activity that would facilitate research collaboration between UK and Indian academics.

The first step in this project involves a course devoted to considering recent developments in social psychological theory and methodology. Addressed to junior scholars in India, the course is designed to allow a two-way sharing of academic expertise, ideas and skills between the two countries.

The course will be delivered at the University of Allahabad between 7 - 21 March by a team comprising four UK and four Indian academics. In addition to lectures there will be many opportunities for practical group work in which participants will explore how social psychological theory can be applied and developed.

One of the longer-term aims of the course is to bring together Indian and UK researchers in joint research programmes. High quality collaborative research programmes in social psychology could have the potential to produce a number of academic and practical social policy results.

Nick said of the project, "My sabbatical visit to India was fascinating. Among the students and scholars that I met there was a real interest in social psychology and its potential to help explain important aspects of people’s lives. Many were interested in the work of UK and European social psychologists and there is a lot we can all learn from applying these perspectives in an Indian context. The chance to work alongside our Indian colleagues is also a wonderful opportunity for the visiting UK academics to learn much about contemporary developments in Indian psychology."

The Psychology Department in Allahabad is one of the most respected in India and is recognised by the Indian University Grants Commission as one of limited number of 'Centres of Advanced Study'. It also hosts the Centre for Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences.

Funding for the course was obtained from the Indian University Grants Commission and from the British Council office in Delhi.