TISS Appoints Prof. Shalini Bharat As Director

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), a multi-campus public funded research university creating human service professionals for the nation since 1936, is happy to announce the appointment of Prof. Shalini Bharat as Director. Until recently, she was the Acting Director after the retirement of Prof Parasuraman in February 2018.

Prof. Bharat would be taking charge immediately and would lead TISS as it continues its work for the promotion of sustainable and participatory development and creation of a just and equitable society.

A gold medallist in MA from Allahabad University with a PhD from the same University, Prof. Shalini Bharat joined TISS in September 1984 as a lecturer and became a professor in July 2000. Prior to taking over as the Deputy Director (Academic) TISS, she was the first Dean of the School of Health Systems Studies and the National Coordinator of Global Fund Project –Saksham. She has been a member on the Mission Steering Group of National Rural Health Mission and on the Governing Board of National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. She is currently a Member on the Governing Body of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and associated with several other national bodies of the Government of India.

Commenting at the announcement, Mr. S Ramadorai, Chairman of the Governing Board, TISS said, “On behalf of the Board, I am happy to welcome Prof.Shalini Bharatas Director. TISS is today a Grade 1 institution in the country and has contributed to civil society since inception through education and research, earning recognition as an institute of repute. As TISS gears up to cement its position as an institution of excellence in higher education, I am sure that Prof. Bharat who brings with her a wealth of experience and vision will take the initiative and ensure that TISS will meet the challenges with passion and commitment. 

About TISS:

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) was established in 1936 as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work to create human service professionals to address the issues of unemployment and poverty in the context of the Great Depression of the 1930s. In 1944, it was renamed as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and in 1964 the Government of India (GoI) declared TISS as Deemed to be a University under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956. Between 2004–2006, TISS initiated a process to expand and adapt its academic structure to respond to the challenges and opportunities created by the economic and political context of globalisation. Today, TISS offers education in the inter-disciplinary areas of Social Sciences. It offers teaching, research and outreach programmes from four campuses: Mumbai (Main and Naoroji) established in 1936; Tuljapur, established in 1986; Guwahati and Hyderabad, both established in 2011. The Tuljapur, Hyderabad and Guwahati off campuses of TISS offer a range of teaching and research programmes. The Institute also offers teaching, training, research and development support from Centres established at Leh (Ladakh, 2004), Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 2004), Chennai (Tamil Nadu, 2012), Delhi (2015), Patna (Bihar, 2015), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala, 2015), and Chuchyimlang (Nagaland, 2015).