‘Social activists should spread awareness about scholarships’

Our Correspondent

Payal, August 13

Having penned down half a dozen books on human rights and research methodology, Dr Shveta Dhaliwal, Director, South Asia Service Region (CTRLD) Consortium for Teaching Research and Learning Department, US, aims to start a helpline and a coordinated programme for updating educated youth on various avenues of research career on a global map.

Calling upon students to take more interest in politics and foreign policy making, Dhaliwal argued political awareness affects lives of all significantly.

Addressing a meeting of office-bearers of organisations of the region, Dr Dhaliwal said social activists should work towards spreading awareness about scholarships and fellowship programmes available from time to time so that the youth of the border state could explore the world and develop their own understanding of this globalised world.

Referring to her observations made during the recent prestigious fellowship under the banner of Study of United States Institutions (SUSI), Dr Dhaliwal acknowledged that even countries such as the US intended dispersing elements of their foreign policy among laureates and thinkers of the world.

Presently working Fulbright campus representative at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala, Dhaliwal specialises in human rights, regionalism, international relations and political thinking with special focus on South Asia.

Showing concern over lack of platforms for updating educated youths on scholarships and fellowships available at international level, Dr Dhaliwal said she was the only expert to represent India during SISU and there were scholars from 17 other countries such as the UK, Paraguay, Honduras, Egypt, Chile, Indonesia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Iraq and others. The programme was hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement, Bard College, Annandale, New York.

“Though as an individual I may not reach every aspirant, I wish to reach out to students of the border state through social organisations and schools so that they can avail opportunities being provided by the biggest institutes of the world,” said Dr Dhaliwal who is also planning to come out with a book on US Foreign Policy. She is keen to work with schools to have free online courses on human rights which are offered by various institutes.