Riddhi Bhandari

Bhandari, Riddhi (O.P. Jindal Global U.) and Siddhi Bhandari (Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology), India – This proposed project aims to conceptualize and initiate a critical dialogue around what we refer to as the “pedagogy of care”. Pedagogy of care is a framework for teaching and mentoring students where care and empathy are extended to both students and faculty, and where conversations on disciplinary professionalism and integrity coexist alongside the increasing demand for a skill-based, job-market centered educational training. In the current higher-ed context, as we will elucidate later, pedagogy of care advocates for reflexive care for faculty, who are increasingly placed in the position of caregiver for students. This project is centered on the Indian experience–it will focus on higher-ed institutions in India, including private and public universities, that increasingly cater to interdisciplinary students, where courses on anthropology and sociology are offered with an eye on skill-development of research methods and critical thinking, and that employ a significant number of ad-hoc and short-term faculty.