International Centre for Asian Modernisation was inaugurated at Mahatma Gandhi University in collaboration with the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès, France, and Taylor’s University, Malaysia with the objective of spearheading advanced social science research on Asia’s rapidly evolving social, cultural, and economic landscapes. The tripartite MoU was formalised at a ceremony held at the Convergence Academia Complex on the university campus.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) C. T. Aravindakumar represented MGU, while Prof. (Dr.) Darren Mark Bagnall, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Taylor’s University, and Prof. (Dr.) Cyril Laporte, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Food Studies at Toulouse, signed on behalf of their institutions. Highlighting the significance of the initiative, Prof. Aravindakumar noted that committed students remain the university’s greatest asset and emphasised MGU’s growing global collaborations.
The event was attended by Syndicate Member Adv. Reji Zachariah, Registrar Prof. (Dr.) Bismi Gopalakrishnan, Director of the School of Tourism Studies Prof. (Dr.) Robinett Jacob, Prof. (Dr.) Sajimon Abraham, Dr. Tony K. Thomas, and academic representatives from the partner universities.
The three universities will establish study centres on their campuses to examine rapid changes in Asian societies over the past two decades, including shifts in demography, consumption, lifestyle, urbanisation, and mobility. A two-day symposium on Tourism and Asian Modernisation also commenced today.
The centre is part of MGU’s vision to transform itself into a global university, building on its distinction as Kerala’s only UGC Category-I university. The research hub will focus on areas such as food culture and health, urban migration, politics, and international relations.
