O.P. Jindal Global University establishes Research Centre on G20 Studies

The centre will work to develop multisectoral training and capacity building programmes in close partnership with higher education institutions in the G20.

O.P. Jindal Global University, has announced the establishment of the Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies. This will exclusively focus on research, thought leadership, and capacity building initiatives relating to G20.

JGU has taken efforts to build this Centre in the light of India assuming the Presidency of G20 from 1 December 2022. G20 is an intergovernmental forum which has 20 countries and the European Union as its members. Its main objective is to address issues relating to the global economy, especially on matters relating to international financial stability, climate mitigation and sustainable development. However, what needs to be recognized is that G20 comprises of the world’s largest economies – both industrialized and developing countries. Remarkably, G20 accounts for around 80% of the gross world product (GWP), 75% of the international trade, two-thirds of the global population, and 60% of the world’s land area.

The Jindal Global Centre for G20 Studies (JGC4G20) at O.P. Jindal Global University will have five major objectives: first, to develop a strong vision for enabling academic institutions across the G20 region to build international collaborations between them; second, to launch new initiatives to promote G20 studies and greater understanding of the countries in G20 in all its dimensions across other Indian higher education institutions; third, to organise periodic lectures, seminars and conferences of topical relevance to India-G20 cooperation in partnership with other universities, think-tanks and government officials; fourth, to build and strengthen capacities for pursuing research relating to G20 countries within India with a strong focus on joint research between institutions in G20; fifth: to develop multisectoral training and capacity building programmes in close partnership with higher education institutions in the G20.

Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, the Founding Vice Chancellor of JGU observed, “As India assumes the Presidency of G20, this will be the first such Centre established by any Indian university. I am happy to announce the appointment of Professor (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, former Indian Ambassador to France and the Dean of the Office of International Affairs & Global Initiatives at JGU as the Inaugural Director of the JGC4G20. This will be a university-wide research centre, which will pursue five major initiatives in this year of India's Presidency of G20.”

Commenting on the significance of this initiative, Professor Kumar observed, "The vision for proposing a G20 Global Education Forum should enable the opportunity for another summit hosted in parallel to the G20 summit, which will bring together the leading universities of the G20. The vision of this Centre is to transcend the functioning of G20 that is currently limited to the governmental organisations, politicians, and diplomats. The democratization of the functioning of G20 as an international forum will require a complete reimagination involving other participants, especially the young people who are part of the universities of the world. Their involvement and the participation of universities including their researchers, albeit in a separate forum hosted on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, will send a powerful signal to make the working of G20 more inclusive."

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