Page 29 - Education World July 2020

SPECIAL ESSAY
Putting Theory to Practice—5 advantages of

pursuing the B.A. (Hons.) Social Science and
Policy programme at JSGP

NESCO had declared in its problem. Take the example of managing the
World Social Science Report Covid-19 crisis: most of the experts trained in
2013, “The Social Sciences a singular discipline are failing to produce a
Uhave a critical contribution comprehensive and lasting policy framework
to make, in helping us understand, imagine, to deal with the health emergency. Most of the
and craft a more sustainable future for all.” policies are ad hoc in nature, changing with
That future is upon us, and the need for the course of time, creating confusion and
equitable and sustainable development is chaos in public life. Worldwide, universities
greater than ever before. Social scientists have been promoting the so-called inter-
play an instrumental role in bringing such disciplinary training, which turns out to be a
a change. B.A. (Hons.) Social Science and buffet of various courses, without any central
Policy programme, offered by Jindal School focus or rigour. Most of the time, the onus of
of Government and Public Policy (JSGP), creating an interdisciplinary perspective rests
can equip aspiring social scientists with the with the students with teachers continuing
knowledge and skills to address the increasing to teach and research from the silos of their
array of social problems and policy challenges mother discipline. Realising these limitations, Prof. (Dr.) Swagato Sarkar
we are facing as a global community. JSGP have designed the B.A. (Hons.) Social
According to the World Economic Forum, Science and Policy programme to transcend
complex problem-solving is the most the disciplinary boundaries to create an observation. Qualitative methods are needed
important skill needed to thrive in the Fourth organic whole called “social science.” A to understand how individuals think, feel or
Industrial Revolution. B.A. (Hons.) Social selection of electives across the different behave in particular situations, or in relations
Science and Policy programme will train schools at JGU that go beyond the core with others that develop over time.”
the students to solve policy problems by subjects will give students an opportunity to
transcending the narrow confines of traditional pursue their own interests. 4. Exposure to global perspectives and
Honours programmes in a single discipline. international opportunities
The goal of JSGP and O.P. Jindal Global 2. Hands-on training to understand practical The students can choose to learn a foreign
University (JGU) is to make the students applications of theoretical concepts language, and take part in the exchange
better human beings, cultivating in them Empowered by theoretical clarity, students programme with a foreign university.
empathy and understanding towards others, will learn how to apply knowledge to select, International collaborations with top
critical thinking, good communication skills, analyse and solve social and policy issues. foreign universities and access to a pool of
and a broad understanding of how societies They will be trained in academic writing and internationally-trained academicians at JGU
have changed over time and can change for presentation. Tthey will learn to manage will expose the students to global trends and
the better in future. JGU has been recently student societies and, organise events, which debates.
ranked as India’s number one private will develop their social and emotional skills. 5. Diverse career opportunities for graduates
university by QS World University Rankings JSGP offers capstone projects to the Graduates will have a good foundation
2021 JGU was also ranked among the top 150 students, wherein students work full-time in to become successful in central and state
universities in the world under the age of 50 in an organisation for a semester, which allow civil services examination, and they can look
the QS Young University Rankings 2021, in a them to understand how policy interventions forward to opportunities with development
big nod to this young university’s objective of and research work in real-life situations. JGU’s and policy consulting firms, CSR departments
offering global standard of higher education to strong industry network and Office of Career of corporations, bilateral and multilateral
Indian students. Services enable students to get rewarding development agencies, advocacy groups,
Here are five ways in which the B.A. internship opportunities NGOs, think-tanks, and print and television
(Hons.) Social Science and Policy programme 3. A focus on research as the DNA of media companies, among others. The
can nurture tomorrow’s agents of change. exemplary social scientists students will develop various transferable
1. Broad range of subjects helps develop the Research is a core component of social skills such as research and analysis,
ability to think laterally science. Systematic investigation can lead creative thinking, and verbal and written
Over the years social sciences have to new insights which can bring structural communication. These skills are considered
expanded but got fragmented and changes and impact the world. This B.A. valuable in professions across sectors and
institutionalised into disciplinary silos such (Hons.) programme will train students to can lead to rewarding careers in their chosen
as economics, political science, sociology, become insightful and innovative in their fields in, social science and beyond.
anthropology, and communication. These thinking.
silos no longer offer a comprehensive Quantitative methods can provide vital Prof. (Dr.) Swagato Sarkar, Professor
understanding of how society functions and information about a society or community, Jindal School of Government & Public Policy
changes. However, social and policy problems through surveys, examination or records or M.A. (TISS, Mumbai);
are never simply an “economic” or a “political” censuses that no individual could obtain by M.Phil., D.Phil. (University of Oxford)

EDUCATIONWORLD JULY 2020