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Contact: Dr.(Mrs) A. Jahangeer-Chaujoo Head, Centre for Mauritian Studies (Ph: 4032000, 4339294)
The Centre for Mauritian Studies operates as full-fledged centre of higher learning since 1996 when the institute was given full responsibility to develop the following fields of learning at the tertiary level: Indian Studies, Mauritian Studies, Chinese Studies, Performing Arts and Fine Arts. The setting up of the centre in1996 re-emphasized the importance of the Mauritian Studies as an area of studies for which the Mahatma Gandhi Institute has had a clear mandate since 1976 when the school of Mauritian, Asian and African Studies (SMAAS) was created.
The creation of the SMAAS in 1976 as one of the constituent schools of the Mahatma Gandhi embodies a vision – that of enlarging the role of the MGI so as to provide a unique academic meeting-ground of cultures, a laboratory to investigate the heritage and the society in the making. The Centre for Mauritian Studies is involved in the analysis of the Mauritian society through research and teaching as well as cultural activities. It has, since its inception, oriented research projects and taught modules towards a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach, focusing primarily on Literature and Social Sciences. The disciplinary orientation of the research in Mauritian Studies is in History, Literature, Social Geography, Sociology, Social Anthropology and Cultural Studies. The field of Mauritian Studies offers panoply of opportunities for in-depth understanding of the Mauritian multicultural society. You will discover and learn about the rich history and culture of the Mauritius from the perspective of the different disciplines, and in the academic setting. The Centre’s multifarious academic activities such as research, publication, exhibitions, workshops, seminars and conferences further strengthen the academic endeavour of the Centre and also offers graduate and undergraduate teaching programmes, and takes advantage of new sources of funding and new opportunities for collaborative research. Vision
To establish also offers a centre for the Mauritian and Area Studies within a multidisciplinary framework.
Mission Statement
The Centre has as mission to strengthen and promote research in Immigration and settlement, migration and diaspora, mauritian studies and comparative literature, contemporary societies and development studies and cultural studies and area studies.
It also helps disseminate research findings through its own publications, joint publications, joint publication, as well as through contributions to specialized publications, consolidate teaching at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, to supervise dissertations and theses in the specific fields and disciplines of the Centre and its staff and to contribute to social and cultural enrichment through outreach programme. The Centre aims at promoting a sense of national identity, through inter-cultural understanding in line with Government policy, and identified social demand, and national expectation and at establishing itself as centre of international repute in its identified fields of specialization and interest. Its major objectives are to present Mauritian Studies as an organized and growing body of knowledge, through a survey and assessment of available works, and the production of an annotated bibliography which will be regularly updated, as a major research tool, to set up a fully functional library of Mauritian Studies, to publish the bi-annual Journal of Mauritian Studies, to define an integrated programme of research in identified fields of specialization, with emphasis on interdisciplinary and comparative studies, to publish scholarly work in the identified fields, to provide a forum for international meetings of scholars in the line with (4), to conduct seminars, conferences, organize exhibitions and undertake production for the media in the identified fields of specialization and interest, to undertake curriculum development for inputs at all education levels, in collaboration with sister institutions and other departments of the MGI, to enlarge and consolidate holdings on Immigration, in order to reflect the movements of people from different origins to Mauritius, to provide consultancy services to relevant bodies relating to the National Heritage, e.g. Archives, National Monuments, artifacts etc and to set up a Contemporary Papers Holdings. Infrastructure and Management
The Centre has its own space and management. It has 2 well-furnished staff rooms, relatively well equipped with telephone and computer facilities. The Centre has a well-furnished and equipped office for the Head, and secretariat of 3 staff: Higher Executive Officer, Confidential Secretary and Clerical Officer. There is a room for further improvement.
Research and Publications
The Centre disseminates research findings through the MGI publications, joint publication with local and foreign publishers, and also through the contribution of its members to specialized publications. The major thrust of research and publication has been in the fields of History, with an emphasis on Social History, and on Mauritian Literature predominantly in French. The publications of the MGI in these fields cover different periods, and aspects of Mauritian History, as well as biographies of some eminent figures.
Courses Offered B.A (Hons) Mauritian Studies Electives: MST 1221 – Overview of History, MST 2122 – Literature and Society, MST 2124 – Aspects of Contemporary History and MST 3123 – Contemporary Issues. M.A Mauritian Studies Career Propects: research, museums, cultural centres, tourism & travels, teaching, media.
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