Science and tech for better diplomacy?
One thing premium institutes in India have not been known for is the strength of their networking among students, former students and industry bigwigs, even though there is considerable overlap between the latter two.
This is now changing. In recent years, alumni efforts have gone far beyond the traditional email alerts and monthly newsletter.
The Indian Institute of Management-bangalore (IIM-B), for instance, has seen its 10-year-old annual meet go global. Anusmaran (Hindi for Recollections) was first conducted in 2009, in Bangalore, New York, San Franscisco, Singapore and London. More cities have been added over the past decade and the annual Anusmaran meet in May this year was held across 18 cities — 8 in India and 10 overseas. These included New York, London, Tokyo, Dubai, Stockholm and Sydney.
IIMBUE, a two-day annual leadership conclave held in Bangalore annually since 2015 is attended by hundreds of business leaders, thought leaders and alumni from around the world, including Sonjoy Chatterjee, chairman of Goldman Sachs India; K Radhakrishnan, former head of ISRO; Mathew Cyriac, a former senior managing director at Blackstone India; Vipul Parekh, cofounder of Bigbasket.
IIM-B also holds Back to School events that connect alumni via webinars from anywhere in the world. And Iim-ahmedabad (IIM-A) has an initiative called Synchrony that supports meet-ups between incoming students, senior students and alumni.
Mumbai’s SP Jain Institute of Management and Research has started an online webinar series titled For Alumni, By Alumni, where former students and faculty discuss evolving issues in the sphere of business management.the JD Birla Institute in Kolkata organises an exhibition titled Caritas, of products made by alumni; and conducts an annual Alumni Holi Meet.
“Alumni can act as a bridge between the institute and industry, even an extended arm of the institute,” says Aditi S Divatia, head of alumni relations at SPJIMR. “Indian institutes have started realising the value their alumni represent for the growth and development of the institute and its students. Alumni too are finding value in returning to the institute whether it is to network, keep learning, or to contribute to the institute and its students.”
At IIM-B alumni, and the Indian Institutes of Technology in Mumbai and Guwahati, former students have set up funds to aid economically weaker students and the differently abled. “Alumni are important stakeholders of an institution and can easily connect with students of their alma mater. Besides adding value as experts and consultants, they are also excellent mentors,” says Sharayu Bhakare, head of the Entrepreneurship Development Cell at Symbiosis, Pune.
Most of the alumni meets are informal events where better connections are forged and vital impressions are made. “Bonding over common experiences such as campus life and professors results in a stronger relationship. Whether you are an entrepreneur or a corporate professional, getting to know the alumni helps,” says Amey Asuti, an IIM-A alumn who is also founder and MD of digital media agency Futuready.
THE US DOES IT BEST
The next step would be to have alumni provide steady mentoring and internship opportunities to students as they explore career options — and to be involved in philanthropic fundraising for the campus community, as has been done very successfully in the US.
There, alumni meets are a time-honoured tradition. Stanford organises lakeside camps, Memorial Day weekend programmes. Ohio State has alumni golf tournaments and leadership symposiums. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has leadership conferences spread across three days where students and alumni deliver keynotes and presentation. New York University holds alumni award ceremonies to honour high-achieving alumni.
“When students think of which university to attend, one of their deciding factors is how active the alumni are of that particular university. Several overseas universities invest heavily in keeping alumni engaged,” says education consultant Karan Gupta. “Alumni associations are likely to get more active as more Indian students return home and seek to engage with their peers.” Science and technology issues can often be at the forefront of problems between nations, and yet these are not fields in which most diplomats specialise.
No country’s foreign policy can ignore science and its benefits. But diplomats end up negotiating in these areas without knowing they are doing so. As a result, possibilities of collaboration are missed and science is not even given a seat at the table.
India has explored several possibilities when it comes to undertaking joint projects in developing countries.
And yet there are areas that require a specialist view when it comes to negotiations that involve specialised fields. Emerging issues in the fields of science and technology can have an impact on how a nation negotiates treaties and protocols.
These issues are generally at the root of many trade controversies and disputes, which require greater understanding by trade negotiators or diplomats or even policy makers.
The main objective of science diplomacy is to mobilise scientific and technological expertise to enable developing countries; diplomats and representatives to participate fully and to make informed decisions on emerging issues, where science and technology play an important role.
Science diplomacy is not new. It has a long history. Somehow, many other countries including India were late starters in recognizing the links between science and diplomacy.
Sometimes, it is science and technology diplomacy that becomes the voice of leadership and prosperity, by linking these fields with foreign policy for regional and common benefits.
It is a very good tool with limited resources for maximum results, keeping a country’s principles and priorities on top of the agenda.
Strengthening S&T cooperation among developing countries to resolve global issues is vital. The countries with state-of-theart facilities in S&T can contribute in capacity development for developing countries by dispatching S&T researchers and scientific leaders, promoting research cooperation as well as establishment of joint facilities & international networks.
India has explored several possibilities of undertaking joint projects in developing countries such as Afghanistan, Mauritius, the Maldives, Nepal and countries in South-east Asia and Africa. Under India-african S&T initiatives, various programmes and activities have been implemented for further strengthening of value based cooperation to a new level to fight against hunger, poverty, terrorism and various deadly diseases. It is a part of our technology diplomacy by focussing on regions and projects that can utilise the relative strengths and our knowledge base for common good.
To do so, mechanisms and resources for sustained S&T cooperation are needed. Building upon the success, holding of joint meetings, creation of joint centres, having common funds and foundations could utilise collaborative medium scale S&T research projects for enhancing South-south cooperation.
Depending on success, mechanism for developing priorities for large scale or mega projects can also be considered.
For this barriers of mobility of scientists in both countries need to be further minimized and increased level of dedicated support needs to be explored. The success of 50:50 joint venture partnerships could be looked at as successful models, such as Indo-french Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA), supported and funded by the two governments of India and France for more than three decades.
With countries having differences on the political level, science diplomacy through research cooperation and exchanges provides a good avenue for keeping channels of communication open and for improving relations.
It is neither desirable nor possible to convert diplomats into scientists, nor scientists into diplomats; it is useful for them to understand each others’ language and compulsions.
For that, foreign policy institutes need to enhance capacity in science diplomacy by conducting courses. The US has a Centre for Science Diplomacy and helps in identifying the areas for foreign policy.
Japan has a formal policy on science diplomacy.
Other countries like UK, France have several plans and programmes to drive bilateral research with strategically important countries.
Many countries have educational scholarships and programmes like science festivals, exhibitions, knowledge summit, technology summit, mobility funds or even academic tours. India is one of such countries, giving importance to science diplomacy by launching SAARC space satellite and many initiatives, such as Make in India, Incredible India, Digital India etc. with a motive of Sab Ka Sath Sab Ka Vikas (together we go with collective efforts and inclusive growth).
There are three conceptual categories of Science Diplomacy - Science in Diplomacy, Diplomacy for Science and Science for Diplomacy. But Diplomacy in Science is certainly not required.
If it happens, then Science will be undermined, which is undesirable. Science Diplomacy and S&T cooperation go hand in hand and sometimes can see beyond national boundaries to solve common problems.
The author is director, Indofrench Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research