Srinivasa Rao Srungarapu

Dr. Srinivasa Rao Srungarapu

Professor & Dean
Indira Mahindra School of Education
 srinivasa.srungarapu@mahindrauniversity.edu.in

S. Srinivasa Rao is Professor of Sociology and Education and Dean, Indira Mahindra School of Education, Mahindra University, Hyderabad. He has been a Professor and former Chairperson of Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, from where he is currently on Extraordinary Leave (EoL). Professor Rao has served as the elected President (2019-20), Vice-President (2017-18), General Secretary (2010-12) of Comparative Education Society of India (CESI), which is a professional body of education researchers in India. He played a critical role in re-energising and activating an inactive CESI in these various capacities. Professor Rao was also associated as managing Editor, with Contemporary Education Dialogue, a Sage journal of educational studies, during 2015-19.

Prof Rao’s teaching and research interests centre around issues of social diversity, equity and justice; education policy; educational organisations; language and multiculturalism; and education in diverse spatial and national contexts. He has co-edited ‘Sociology of Education in India: Changing Contours and Emerging Concerns’ (Oxford University Press, New Delhi: 2013), besides publishing articles in various reputed journals and edited volumes. Recently, he has published a monograph on ‘School Closures and Mergers’ which is based on a three-state study of the impact of the policy of rationalisation in the backdrop of Right to Education (RTE). He has mentored about 32 M.Phil and 20 Ph.D students, who have submitted their dissertations and theses under his research supervision and/or are awarded degrees so far; and another 12 students continue to work with him for their Ph.D research. Student mentoring through their research works is his passion.

Prof Rao has been a recipient of various international Visiting Fellowships like Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI)’s Faculty Research Fellowship in 2005 and Faculty Enrichment Award in 2011; and Asia Fellow Award of the Asian Scholarship Foundation (ASF) in 2007. He had been a Visiting Scholar at various premier centres of educational studies abroad and in India, which includes Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of University of Toronto; Faculty of Education at McGill University, Montreal; Faculty of Humanities and Languages of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (The Malaysian National University); Institute of Education (IoE), University of London; Department of Sociology of University of Hyderabad; National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru.

Professor Rao has been and is a member of several Advisory Committees, Boards of Studies, and Departmental Academic Committees of nationally reputed institutions like Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR); University Grants Commission (UGC); National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA); University of Hyderabad; Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU); Central Institute of Education (CIE) of Delhi University; Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS); Guru Gobind Singh Indrapastha University, Delhi; etc. at different periods of his career. He has also been a Consultant for various educational programs and research and advocacy projects of various organizations such as Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed. CIL), MHRD; Ford Foundation; Save the Children; Bodh Shiksha Samiti, Tata Trusts, etc.

Besides academic engagements, Prof Rao was also actively engaged in corporate affairs of JNU as an elected teacher member of the Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of the University, for a period of two years (2012-14).

1997

  • Ph.D. (1997) in Sociology of Education, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Title of the thesis: Equality and Excellence in Institutions of Engineering and Technology in India

1992

  • M Phil (1992) in Educational Studies, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Title of the dissertation: Non-formal Education for Girls in Andhra Pradesh: A Sociological Study

1990

  • MA (1990) in Sociology, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad

1988

  • B.Sc (1988) in Physics (Major), Andhra Pradesh Residential Degree College (APRDC), Nagarjuna Sagar; Nagarjuna University

(2022- Present)

  • Prof. Srinivasa Rao is the Dean and Professor at the Indira Mahindra School of Education at Mahindra University. (2022- Present)

Teaching Experience (23 Years, All in JNU)

Teaching Experience (23 Years, All in JNU)

  • PROFESSOR, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi; April, 2015 onwards. (currently on Extraordinary Leave (EoL) )
  • ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, April, 2009 – April 2015.
  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (SENIOR LECTURER), Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi, April, 2003 – April, 2009.
  • ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, JNU, New Delhi, April, 1999 – April 2003.

Administrative Experience (2 Years)

Administrative Experience (2 Years)

  • CHAIRPERSON, Zakir Husain Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, February 2019 – February 2021 (2 year term)

Consultancy Experience (Little Less Than 2 Years)

Consultancy Experience (Little Less Than 2 Years)

  • CONSULTANT, Academic Support & Programme Co-ordination; Campus Diversity Initiative, Project of the Ford Foundation in India, New Delhi, Jan 1998 to Apr 1999.
  • CONSULTANT – Appraisal, Monitoring & Supervision, National Technical Support Group (TSG), District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), MHRD, Government of India, New Delhi, Aug 1997 to Dec 1997.

Editorial Experience

Editorial Experience

  • MANAGING EDITOR, Contemporary Education Dialogue, a Sage Publication, 2014 to 2019.
  • Research Associate, ICSSR Journal of Abstracts and Reviews in Sociology and Social Anthropology, January 1992 – June 1992.

Visiting Fellow Assignments

Visiting Fellow Assignments

  • VISITING FELLOW, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), IISc, Bangalore, August 2017
  • VISITING FELLOW, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad March 2015
  • FACULTY ENRICHMENT FELLOWSHIP, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. Visited Faculty of Education, McGill University; and Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto (June-July 2011)
  • ASIA FELLOW (2006-07), by Asian Scholarship Foundation, Bangkok. Availed the Award as a Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia, for a period of nine months (March – December, 2007) , as part of the Fellowship. Conducted post-doctoral research on impact of globalisation on higher education in Malaysia.
  • FACULTY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (Canadian Studies), 2005. Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi. Availed the Fellowship as a Visiting Scholar at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. Conducted a post-doctoral study on schooling experiences of immigrant children in Canada.

Positions of Responsibility in Professional Academic Bodies

Positions of Responsibility in Professional Academic Bodies

  • PRESIDENT, Comparative Education Society of India (CESI), a professional body of researchers of educational studies in India, January1, 2019 – December 31, 2020 (2 years).
  • VICE-PRESIDENT, Comparative Education Society of India (CESI), a professional body of researchers of educational studies in India, January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 (2 years).
  • GENERAL SECRETARY, Comparative Education Society of India (CESI), a professional body of researchers of educational studies in India, January 2010 to December, 2012 (3 years).

Membership in Committees in Various Universities and Institutions Currently

Membership in Committees in Various Universities and Institutions Currently

  • Member, Steering Committee, Centre for Human Values and Ethics, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi
  • Member, Expert Committee, Revision of MA Programme in Education, Faculty of Education, IGNOU
  • Member, Board of Studies, Department of Sociology, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), Hyderabad
  • Member, Research Review Committee, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi.
  • Member, Expert Committee, Evaluation of Cases for National Awards for Innovation and Good Practices in Educational Administration, NIEPA
  • Member, National Advisory Board for National Centre for school Leadership, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi.
  • External Member, Departmental Committee, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad.
  • Member, Centre Committee, Centre for the Study of Social Systems (CSSS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
  • Member, Executive Committee, CESI (2021-22)

Past

Past

  • Member, Adjudication Committee for National Awards for Innovative and Best Practices in Education, NIEPA, Ministry of Education, Government of India
  • Member, UGC Expert Committee to ascertain fulfilment of criteria by a private university in Madhya Pradesh
  • Member, Research Ethics Committee, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi
  • Member, Expert Committee, BA Courses, Department of Sociology, IGNOU, New Delhi
  • Member, Research and Review Committee, NUEPA, New Delhi
  • Member, Textbook Development Committee, Class XI Sociology, NCERT
  • Member, Course Design Committee, Faculty of Education, IGNOU
  • Member, Expert Group, School of Extension and Development Studies, IGNOU
  • Member, Resource Group, Care India
  • Member, Advisory Committee, ICSSR Project on ‘Educational Status of SCs in Maharashtra’, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
  • Member, Advisory Committee, ICSSR Project on ‘Educational status of SCs in Andhra Pradesh’, University of Hyderabad and CESS, Hyderabad
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Project on ‘Caste Discrimination in Higher Education’, Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS), New Delhi
  • Member, Board of Studies, Department of Sociology, MANUU
  • External Member, Central Institute of Education, Faculty of Education, University of Delhi

Monographs / Edited Books :

2017

  • 2017. School Closures and Mergers: A Multi-State Study of Policy and Its Impact on Public Education System - Telangana, Odisha and Rajasthan, New Delhi: Save the Children.

2013

  • 2013. “Sociology of Education in India: Changing Contours and emerging Concerns’, (Oxford University Press: New Delhi) (Co-Edited with Geetha B Nambissan)

2007

  • 2007. ‘Sociological Perspectives of Education’, New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

SELECT ARTICLES IN JOURNALS/ BOOKS

2022

  • For Profit Corporations and Education reform: Global Dimensions and Impacts, in Rob Tierney, Fazal Rizvi, and Kadriye Ericikan (Eds). International Encyclopedia of Education (4th Edition), Elsevier. (Jointly with Patricia Burch) 2022

2018

  • Community Participation through Civil Society Organisation: Bodh's Model of Co-governance and its Impact on Community Schooling in Rajasthan, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, Volume 32, no. 4, pp. 263-278 2018
  • "Max Weber's Contribution to the Sociology of Education: A Critical Appreciation" (With Smriti Singh), Contemporary Education Dialogue, A Sage Journal, Volume 15, number 1, pp. 73 - 92 2018

2017

  • "Production of an 'Educational' City: Shadow Education Economy and Restructuring of Kota in India", in Pink, W. T. and G W. Noblit (Eds.). Second International Handbook of Urban Education, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, pp. 417 - 443.M. 2017
  • Transition from Elite to Mass System of Higher Education: What does Massification Mean for Equality? Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, Volume XXXI, number 2, pp. 141 - 156. 2017
  • Widening Marginality in Access to Primary education in Tribal Areas: Impact of school Closures and the Policy of Rationalisation, (With Sriti Ganguly and Roma Ranu Dash), International Journal of Indigenous & Marginalised Affairs, Volume 3, number 1, pp. 5 - 24. 2017

2013

  • Structural Exclusion in Everyday Institutional Life: Labelling of Stigmatised Groups in an IIT. in Nambissan, G B. and S. Srinivasa Rao (Eds.). Sociology of Education in India: Changing Contours and Emerging Concerns, Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 199 - 223. 2013
  • Sociology of Education in India - Trajectory, Location and Concerns (With Geetha B. Nambissan), in Nambissan, G B. and S. Srinivasa Rao (Eds.). Sociology of Education in India: Changing Contours and Emerging Concerns, Delhi: Oxford University Press, pp. 1 - 23. 2013

2011

  • Revisiting the Equality Debate in India and the UK: Caste, Race and Class Intersections in Education (With Marie Lall), in Lall, Marie. and Geetha B. Nambissan. (Eds.). Education and Social Justice in the Era of Globalisation: Perspectives from India and the UK, London/New Delhi: Routledge, Taylor &Francis Group, pp. 25 - 53. 2011

2010

  • Between the Ethnic and the Market Agendas: Impact of Affirmative Action and Neoliberal Reforms on Malaysian Higher Education, Contemporary Education Dialogue, A Sage Journal, Volume 7, number 2, pp. 193 - 223. 2010

2009

  • The Schooling of Immigrant Children in Canada: A Critique of Multi-cultural Education, in Raj, Christopher Sam. and Marie Mc Andrew. Multiculturalism: Public Policy and Problem Areas in Canada and India, Delhi: Manak Publications, pp. 245 - 267. 2009
  • ‘Globalisation, Affirmative Action and Higher Education Reforms in Malaysia: A Tightrope Walk between Equality and Excellence’, The Asian Scholar, the E-Journal of ASF, Issue No.5, (http://www.asianscholarship.org/asf/ejourn/index.html/.)

2008

  • “India’s Language Debates and Education of Linguistic Minorities”, Economic and Political Weekly, vol. 43, no. 36, pp. 63 – 69.
  • “Equality in Higher Education: The Impact of Affirmative Action Policies in India”, in Sukhadeo Thorat and Narender Kumar (Eds.). (2008). In Search of Inclusive Policy: Addressing Graded Inequality, Jaipur: Rawat Publishers, pp286 – 311. 2008

2007

  • “Neglected Terrain in the Quest for Equality: Women in Elite Engineering and Technology Education in India”, in Tilak, J. B. G. (Ed.). Women’s Education and Development, Delhi: Gyan Publishers, pp. 187 – 212 2007

2006

  • “Engineering and Technology Education in India: Uneven Spread, Quality, and Social Coverage”, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, Vol. No. , pp. 205 – 225.
  • “Primary Schooling among the Urban Poor: Perspectives from a Study of a Slum in Metropolitan Delhi”, in D. Venkateswarlu et.al. (Eds.). Facets of Urban Society in India: Processes, Problems, and Development, New Delhi: Serials Publications, pp. 207 – 221. 2006

2002

  • “Dalits in Education and Workforce”, Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. xxxvii, no.29, July 20 – 26, 2002, pp. 2998 – 3000.
  • “Equality in Higher Education: The Impact of Affirmative Action Policies in India”, in Edgar Beckham (ed.), Global Collaborations: The Role of Higher Education in Diverse Democracies, Washington D.C: Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2002, pp. 41 – 62.

Course Material Written for IGNOU Textbooks

2007

  • "Understanding Education: A Sociological Perspective", in Rao, S S. Education: Philosophical and Sociological Perspective, New Delhi: IGNOU, pp. 7-19. 2007
  • "Social Structure, Social Stratification, and Social Mobility: Impact on Educational Processes", in Rao, S S. Education: Philosophical and Sociological Perspective, New Delhi: IGNOU, pp. 20-37 2007
  • "Education, Social Change and Social Control", in Rao, S S. Education: Philosophical and Sociological Perspective, New Delhi: IGNOU, pp. 38-53.
  • "Culture, Modernisation and Globalisation: Impact on Education", in Rao, S S. Education: Philosophical and Sociological Perspective, New Delhi: IGNOU, pp. 54 - 68. 2007

2005

  • ‘Survey Research Design’ (CH. 19), in Research Methodologies and Methods Book II, New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University.
  • ‘Survey Instrumentation’ (CH. 20), in Research Methodologies and Methods Book II, New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University. 2005
  • ‘‘Execution of Survey Method’ (CH. 21), in Research Methodologies and Methods, Book II, New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Open University. 2005

Reviews Published in Journals

2011

  • Review of ‘Social Science Learning in Schools: Perspective and Challenges’, Edited by Poonam Batra, in Contemporary Education Dialogue, vol 8, no.2, pp. 250-255. 2011

2010

  • ‘The Issue of Language’, The Book Review, vol. 34, no. 6, June, 2010, pp.24–25. 2010

2006

  • Review of “Affirmative Action in United States and India: A Comparative Perspective” by Thomas E. Weisskopf, in Contemporary Education Dialogue, 3 (2), pp. 218 – 223.
  • Review of “Life at School: An Ethnographic Study” (Second Edition) by Meenakshi Thapan, in The Book Review, November. 2006

2005

  • Review of “Political agenda of education: A Study of Colonialist and Nationalist Ideas” by Krishna Kumar, in The Book Review, 29(10), pp14 – 15. 2005

2003

  • Review of “Negotiating Identities: Women in the Indian Diaspora”, by Aparna Rayaprol, for Indian Journal of Gender Studies, vol.10, no.2, pp. 366 – 371. 2003

2002

  • Review of “Elementary Education in Rural India: A Grassroots View”, Edited by A. Vaidyanathan and P.R. Gopinathan Nair, for The Book Review, vol. XXVI, no. 3, p.31. 2002

1999

  • Review of “Primary Education in India: Policy Perspectives”, in Durga Prasad and Misra (eds.), “Basic Rural Infrastructure and Services for Improved Quality of Life”, NIRD, Hyderabad, 1999. (With Karuna Chanana). 1999

1996

  • Review of "Girls Schooling, Women's autonomy and Fertility change in South Asia" edited by Roger Jeffery and Alaka Basu, Sociological Bulletin, September 1996, pp.279-282. 1996

1995

  • Review of “Conflict, Competition or Co-operation: Dilemmas of State Education Policy making" by Douglas M.Abrams, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, vol.9, no.1, pp.124 126. 1995

1994

  • Review of "Private Initiative and Public Policy in Education" ed. by R.P.Singh, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, vol.8, no.4, pp.484-489.
  • Review of "Sociology and the Third World Perspective" by Orlando Albornoz, Journal of Educational Planing and Administration, vol.8, no.3, pp.331-334. 1994

1992

  • Review of "Tribal Development in India: A Trend Report", by M.Satyanarayana, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, vol.6, no.3, pp.307-308. 1992

1991

  • Review of "Education of Masses in India" by M.G.Mali, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, vol.5, no.3, pp.331-332.
  • Review of "Elite and Social Change: A study of Elite Formation in India" by Suren Navalakha, Journal of Educational Planning and Administration, vol.5, no.1, 1991, pp.99-102. 1991

Popular Articles

2018

  • (Invited Article). Social Change among SCs and STs, Yojana, Volume 62, August issue, pp. 23-25 (With Sundaresha DS) 2018

2016

  • (Invited Article). Education of the Marginalised - SCs & STs: Issues, Challenges and the way Forward, Yojana, vol.60, no.1, January 2016, pp.42-44. 2016

2009

  • ‘From Vision to Act: Milestones in Education’, Hindustan Times, HT Horizons, Nov 11. 2009

2004

  • “Privatisation of Education will Produce Excellence and Merit is entirely Wrong Argument”, Mulnivasi Organiser, Vol. 1, no. 5, pp3 – 5 and 17 2004

2002

  • “Diversity, Discrimination and Disadvantage”, Beyond the Margins, A Quarterly Newsletter for Diversity and Multicultural Education, July, 2002, New Delhi, Pp.6-7 2002

2001

  • “Diversity Concerns in Higher Education”, Edit Page Lead Article, The Hindu, December 15. 2001

1994

  • "Non Formal Education in Perspective", Open Page (Education), The Hindu, Madras, 20 December . 1994

1992

  • "Impediments to Educating the Indian Girl Child" (Gender Page), The Pioneer, New Delhi, 17 June. 1992
  • ‘School Closures and Mergers; A Multi-state Study’, a study sponsored by Save the Children, India
  • ‘A Study of Fee Re-imbursement Scheme of Andhra Pradesh’, Study supported by Capacity Build-up grants of JNU.
  • ‘University Governance in India’, Sponsored by JNU’s grants under University with Potential for Excellence
  • • ‘Production of Educational City: A Study of Kota in Rajasthan’, Sponsored by UGC-DSA Programme, ZHCES, JNU
  • Educational Review/Evaluation of Delhi Public Schools in Hisar, Chandigarh, and Pinjore (September – October, 2009); in Bangalore (North and South) (September 2010); Vidyut Nagar (May, 2012).
  • End of the Project Evaluation of Janshala (Community School) Programme of the Bodh, an NGO working in Alwar district of Rajasthan. The project was supported by the N(o)VIB. December, 2008 – January, 2009.
  • Baseline Assessment Study on the schooling of urban poor in a migrant settlement in Delhi. Looked into the educational aspirations of the urban poor community; Member of the Core Research Team to build University – School Network at ZHCES, JNU, supported by Sir Ratan Tata Trust.
  • Participated in the Integrated Education for Disabled Children – Impact Assessment Study of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), An Autonomous Body Under Ministry of Social Justice, Government of India. The involvement in the Study included training of the Field Investigators in Social Survey, monitoring of the data collection work and preparing an independent Report on the implementation of the IEDC Scheme in Rajasthan( October, 2004). (Coordinated by RCI, New Delhi);
  • Involved in designing, executing and preparing a Report of a student field work in Kusumpur Pahari Slum Cluster in Delhi. The title of the project was “Education among the Urban Poor”. The study was sponsored by the Department of Special Assistance Programme of the UGC, ZHCES, JNU, March – November 2004.
  • Participated as a technical expert in a Baseline Assessment Study to project the educational needs of the migratory population of twelve settlements in Chennai. The study was sponsored by KKSS, one the partner organizations of Christian Children’s Fund (CCF), India. The study attempted to explore the possibilities of bringing the children of the ever-migrating communities like gypsies in a Metropolitan context., January 2004.
  • Monitored a survey of fourteen villages in Pondicherry in order to draft the educational plans for universalisation of elementary education. The project was conducted by the ‘Community Seva Centre’, a Community Based Organisation, in its programme of overall community development in those villages, February 2004.
  • Conducted Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. To prepare village level plans for development and prioritizing the developmental needs of select villages in the district. For KKSS, a partner organization of the CCF, India. February 2004.
  • Participated in the National Evaluation Study on Civil Works Under District Primary Education Programme (DPEP) for Government of India. The Study was coordinated by the Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed.CIL), New Delhi. Visited six districts of Andhra Pradesh, three of which are funded by the DFID and the other three were supported through the World Bank loan to Government of India. The districts include Cuddapah, Mahboob Nagar, Adilabad, Nellore, Karim Nagar, and Warangal. The team comprised of three members from different backgrounds, one from Archtecture, another from Civil Engineering and the third from the Social Sciences. (April – June 2002);
  • Designed and executed a short-term field project by the students on the Primary Schooling in an Urbanised Village, Mahipalpur of NCT of Delhi. Undertaken with the assistance from Department of Special Assistance Programme of the UGC, ZHCES, JNU, September – October, 2001.
  • A Feasibility Study on Strengthening of Rural Colleges, Sponsored by the Ford Foundation, 1998. (With a team of five members)