Welcome to the DEVHAS forum
This forum is the e-Discussion Board of the Asia-Link
DEVHAS project: Development of Human resources and Strategies for Education
on the Stereotypical Images and Cultural Differences between Europe and
South Asia. More information on the Asia-Link programme and the DEVHAS
project can be found here.
This forum brings together the core group participants and representatives
from the business community, political sector, educational sector and
the media.
The contacts between Europe and South Asia have grown dramatically during the last decade. Therefore, knowledge of the stereotypical images and cultural differences between both regions has become essential to all sectors of society. The DEVHAS project trains a core group of young South Asian and European scholars to teach and popularise innovative theories on stereotyping and cultural difference.
The core group is working on the following sub-themes: ‘Religion and the South Asian Traditions’, ‘Caste, Socio-economic Inequality and Development’ and ‘Pluralism, Tolerance and Conflict’. (more information) This forum allows the core group to discuss intermediate results and draft versions of articles. Representatives from the business community, political sector, educational sector and the media are warmly invited to join the discussion.
The three sub-themes of the forum
(1) Religion and the South Asian Traditions: How have the Europeans made sense of the various traditions they encountered in South Asia such as Hinduism and Buddhism? Is the general understanding of these traditions constrained by the cultural background of the Europeans? How did South Asians make sense of the Christian religion of the Europeans?
(2) Caste, Socio-economic Inequality and Development: How have the Europeans made sense of the structure of the South Asian society? Is the current understanding of caste, inequality and development related to the cultural background of the Europeans? Can this question help us to think about alternative approaches to development issues?
(3) Pluralism, Tolerance and Conflict: How have the Europeans made sense of the immense diversity in South Asian societies? Is the current understanding of religious conflict and tolerance related to the cultural background of the Europeans? Is it possible to develop an alternative approach to conflict resolution in contemporary South Asia?
Asia-Link (European Commission): DEVHAS: Development of Human Resources and Strategies for Education on the Stereotypical Images and Cultural Differences between Europe and South Asia
>> www.cultuurwetenschap.be/ASIA-LINK
>> www.devhas.org/forum/index.php
This proposal has been selected for financing by the European Commission.
The Asia-Link Programme is an initiative by the European Commission to promote
regional and multilateral networking between higher education institutions
in EU Member States and eligible countries in Asia. The programme aims to
promote the creation of new partnerships and new sustainable links between
European and Asian higher education institutions, and to reinforce existing
partnerships.
DEVHAS intends to establish a large-scale collaboration between the Research
Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap of Ghent University, the University
of Amsterdam, Kuvempu University (Shimoga, India), the Centre for the Study
of Culture and Society (Bangalore, India), and the University of Peradeniya,
Sri Lanka.
Donor organisation: European Commission Asia-Link Programme.
Duration: 2 years.
Area of Co-Operation: Education on Cultural Differences
between Europe and South-Asia.