The Tata Institute of Social Sciences will mark its 90th anniversary by launching a Global Social Science Research Body and announcing three new international dual degree programmes during a global colloquium in Mumbai from May 11–13, 2026.

Mumbai, May 2026: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is set to mark its 90th anniversary with a major global academic initiative — the launch of a Global Social Science Research Body aimed at strengthening international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and policy-focused knowledge partnerships.

The announcement will be made during the Global Colloquium on “Building Bridges in Social Sciences,” scheduled from May 11 to 13, 2026, at the TISS Deonar campus in Mumbai. The event is expected to bring together leading academics, policymakers, diplomats, civil society leaders, researchers, and development practitioners from India and across the world.

The proposed global research body is being positioned as a platform to promote deeper academic engagement across the Global South, while also connecting Indian institutions with international universities and policy networks. It is expected to focus on collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and solutions-oriented dialogue around some of the most pressing social, economic, and development challenges.

As part of the 90th anniversary initiatives, TISS will also announce three new international dual degree programmes in collaboration with global academic partners. The partnerships include associations with the University of Leeds, University College London United Nations Association, and the University of Canterbury.

These programmes are expected to expand TISS’s international academic footprint and create new opportunities for students and researchers to engage with global learning environments, cross-border academic frameworks, and comparative social science research.

The proposed dual degree collaborations also reflect a growing trend in higher education where institutions are moving beyond conventional academic exchange models and building deeper, structured partnerships that combine teaching, research, field engagement, and policy dialogue.

Speaking on the initiative, TISS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Badri Narayan Tiwari emphasized the institute’s ambition to become a key anchor for social science research by promoting cross-border partnerships, interdisciplinary knowledge sharing, and policy-oriented engagement.

The colloquium will focus on critical themes that are central to contemporary social science discourse. These include governance and public policy, sustainability, climate resilience, public health, migration, urbanisation, social transformation, and the role of technology in society.

The event is expected to provide a platform for scholars and practitioners to examine how social science research can contribute to public systems, inclusive development, and evidence-based policymaking. The initiative also signals a broader push to position Indian academic institutions as active contributors to global knowledge production, particularly in areas that affect developing economies and societies.

The launch of the Global Social Science Research Body comes at a time when social science institutions are increasingly being called upon to address complex challenges such as climate vulnerability, public health inequality, migration, digital transformation, urban growth, and social justice.

By bringing together universities, policy leaders, civil society organisations, and international partners, TISS aims to create a collaborative platform that can support long-term research networks and practical policy engagement.

The initiative also reinforces India’s role as a significant contributor to global social science dialogue, particularly from the perspective of the Global South. With India’s diverse social realities, development experience, and expanding higher education ecosystem, the proposed body could help generate new frameworks for comparative research and public policy innovation.

The 90th anniversary initiative also reflects the wider institutional strength of TISS across its campuses. Key academic leaders associated with the initiative include Prof. Aseem Prakash from TISS Hyderabad, Prof. Jagannath Ambagudia from TISS Guwahati, Prof. Bal Rakshase from TISS Tuljapur, and Prof. Sunil Damodaran Santha.

Their involvement highlights the multi-campus and interdisciplinary character of TISS, which has historically worked across areas such as social work, development studies, public policy, education, health systems, rural development, labour studies, disaster studies, and social transformation.

Founded as one of India’s leading institutions in social science education and research, TISS has played an important role in shaping academic, policy, and field-based engagement in the country. The 90th anniversary colloquium is expected to serve not only as a commemorative event but also as a forward-looking platform for global academic collaboration.

With the proposed research body and new dual degree programmes, TISS is seeking to deepen its global partnerships and expand the relevance of social science research in addressing real-world challenges.

The upcoming colloquium in Mumbai is expected to mark a significant moment for Indian higher education, global research collaboration, and the future of interdisciplinary social science engagement.

TISS is set to mark its 90th anniversary with a major global academic initiative — the launch of a Global Social Science Research Body during the Global Colloquium on “Building Bridges in Social Sciences” from May 11–13, 2026, at its Deonar campus in Mumbai.

The institute will also announce three new international dual degree programmes with global academic partners, strengthening India’s role in social science research, policy dialogue, and Global South collaboration.

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