School of Social and Political Science

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The University of Edinburgh has signed a new memorandum of understanding with India’s Rajagiri College of Social Sciences that will create new opportunities for Social Work students and staff across research and learning and teaching. 

The purpose of the new partnership is to develop the relationship between the two institutions through strengthening research links and the reciprocal exchange of staff and students. The understanding will include collaboration in teaching, research and services to the community, with the two working together on activities and projects with mutual benefits. This could involve the joint writing of research grant applications and journal articles, as well as collaborative workshops. There is potential for the partnership to expand to the research interests and remit of other departments in the School of Social and Political Science, where Social Work is based.

The understanding will build on existing collaboration between the Social Work subject area and Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, which is one of India’s leading higher education institutions for social work. In 2022, four Social Work students from Edinburgh travelled to Rajagiri on a placement, while six Rajagiri students came to Edinburgh. This allowed students from both institutions to experience and explore different regional projects in labour migration and other social impact themes. There are plans for more placements as part of the memorandum of understanding. 

The University of Edinburgh’s Head of Social Work, Dr George Palattiyil, said: 

“I am delighted that the University of Edinburgh has signed a MoU with Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, India. In keeping with the University’s Strategy 2030, I am keen that our students have a range of learning opportunities both in Scotland and abroad. Cross-cultural learning allows students to develop greater awareness of cultural diversity and stimulate interrogation of global challenges from different perspectives. 

“Rajagiri College is one of the top social work universities in India and has an outstanding track record of hosting placements for international students; our own students who completed their placement at Rajagiri in February to June 2022 reflected on the transformative experiences of learning in a different cultural context. Signing the MoU is the natural culmination of our commitment to sustaining this relationship while creating newer opportunities for wider academic collaboration.”