What are the key research areas of the BRICS Centre at Amity University, and how do they contribute to strengthening collaboration among member countries?

The Amity Centre for BRICS Studies was inaugurated on 10 February 2011 at Amity University Gurgaon, a pioneering initiative led by Aseem Chauhan, Chancellor of Amity University Haryana. The establishment of this Centre was conceived in recognition of the growing strategic importance of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) within the global politico-economic landscape. At a time when BRICS was still in its nascent stages, the Chancellor foresaw the Centre’s potential to serve as a Centre of Excellence, dedicated to advancing research, fostering knowledge creation, and promoting the dissemination of critical information pertaining to the BRICS group.

Over the past decade, the BRICS group has evolved into a significant and influential actor within the global political and economic landscape, and, in parallel, the Amity Centre for BRICS Studies has similarly strengthened its presence and impact. Aligned with the vision and mandate set forth by our Chancellor, the Centre has undertaken a range of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing research, fostering collaboration, and contributing to the ongoing discourse surrounding BRICS. Central to this mission has been the cultivation of partnerships and collaborations with various institutions and entities within the BRICS countries, and people to people connection, reinforcing the Centre’s role as a key player in the field of BRICS studies.

In this context, the key research area of the BRICS Centre includes geopolitics, mainly the intrastate dynamics, geoeconomics of BRICS, soft power and diplomacy, and science and technology. Since the members of BRICS centre at AUH include experts from the Business school, department of liberal arts and foreign languages, sciences, technology and engineering, the research being undertaken here in the BRICS framework is multidimensional and interdisciplinary. Several PhDs have been awarded on the BRICS theme and we are promoting BRICS studies at various level. We are also planning to launch a full-fledged course on BRICS studies from the next academic year to sensitise our students about the association and train a generation of strategic thinkers who can further the centre’s mandate in their research and studies.

The research being undertaken at AUH certainly contributes to strengthening collaboration among member countries as we are already collaborating with various universities and institutions from BRICS countries. We have members from several BRICS countries and we are in process of registering with the BRICS universities network to further strengthening such collaborations.

How do you envision the partnership between the BRICS Research Centre at Amity University and TV BRICS contributing to strengthening the global perception of BRICS countries?

The collaboration between TV BRICS International Media Network and the Amity Centre for BRICS Studies represents a significant milestone in the Centre’s growth and its commitment to expanding the reach of its research and engagement efforts. This partnership underscores the Centre’s focus on fostering direct, multi-dimensional interactions between BRICS institutions, enabling the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and information. It also facilitates the dissemination of critical perspectives on BRICS-related developments, contributing to a deeper understanding of the association evolving role in the global order.

I am certain that our collaboration represents a significant step in enhancing the Centre’s efforts to promote the BRICS agenda, both within member countries and on a global scale. This partnership leverages the strengths of both the parties, BRICS Centre’s (AUH) interdisciplinary academic expertise in BRICS-related teaching, research, and policy, and TV BRICS’ wide-reaching media presence, including television, digital platforms, and social media. By working together, the two organisations can increase the visibility of BRICS initiatives and discussions across multiple platforms, reaching a broad and diverse audience.

Furthermore, TV BRICS with its vast outreach and BRICS Centre AUH with its cademic and research credentials, can play a crucial role in promoting the BRICS vision and its key initiatives like New Development Bank, Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), BRICS Digital Economy Cooperation, Cooperation on Global Health, Urbanisation and Sustainable Development, BRICS Science, Technology, and Innovation Cooperation, BRICS Education and Human Capital Development. This can be achieved through undertaking research and analysis, writing policy briefs and recommendations, joint seminars or conferences focused of some of these initiatives, with a target foster greater public awareness. The other possible way to undertake this task can be to launch a joint BRICS centre and TV BRICS special lecture series where subject matter experts from academia, strategic community and government officials can be invited to share their views and practicality of these initiatives and how to gain maximum out of it. AUH has an advanced infrastructure and intellectual capital to undertake such initiatives. By partnering with TV BRICS this can further be magnified to reach a broader audience. Furthermore, by collaborating with TV BRICS, the Amity Centre for BRICS Studies will gain access to a comprehensive and diverse repository of news, information, and analytical content related to the BRICS countries. It will significantly enhance the Centre’s research capabilities by providing timely, in-depth, and multi-dimensional insights. This will help us to further enrich Centre’s research and analysis, which in turn has the potential to strengthening the global perception of BRICS countries. Let me elucidate it with an example: Under the framework of our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), we recently organised the “Telebridge” event with TV BRICS at AUH which in itself represents a unique initiative in academic and cultural diplomacy, showing how language can go beyond basic communication to become a driving force for more profound geopolitical and intercultural exchange. This initiative further seeks to promote an appreciation of the shared cultural heritage and strategic alignment that characterise BRICS cooperation.

The BRICS Research Centre has been active since 2011. How has its role evolved in promoting research and understanding of the geopolitical dynamics within the BRICS framework?

Over the last decade and a half, Amity Centre for BRICS Studies has been working with various BRICS countries to foster dialogue, cooperation and collaboration. We have hosted various delegation from Russia, China, South Africa and Brazil. The aim is to gather perspective from various BRICS countries and find out niche area of cooperation by engaging in one and a half diplomacy. We have made advancement in higher education and research. This year we are taking the initiative to organise BRICS dialogue before the group’s summit in collaboration with all the five founding members. We are also trying to get on board the BRICS plus countries and engage in deliberation. Towards the end of this year we are planning to bring out a policy paper based on these discussions and deliberation.

In your opinion, how can academic institutions like Amity University contribute to fostering inclusivity and collaboration among BRICS nations?

Academic institutions serve as ideal platform to facilitate Track II diplomacy, given their capacity to provide neutral and objective environments in which academicians and experts can critically examine the multifaceted dimensions of bilateral, trilateral, and plurilateral cooperation among nations. AUH possess a very rich intellectual capital which when combined with expertise of practitioners in diplomacy and foreign policy provide the fertile ground for fostering inclusivity and collaboration among BRICS nations.

How does BRICS Centre at Amity University cooperate with other research institutions and organisations in the BRICS countries? Are there any examples?

We have signed several MoUs with universities and research institutions form the BRICS countries. most notable are with the Russian State University for Humanities (RSUH), Moscow. The other one is with Minin University, Novgorod, Russia. Two research projects covered under Indo-Russian joint project have already been completed. We are closely in touch with Baikal School of BRICS, Russia and BRICS Policy Centre, Brazil. We are planning to cooperate in multilateral setting for undertaking joint research projects. We are also in talks with various chinese universities, including the Beijing university, for a comprehensive MoU on research and academic collaboration. We have also initiated talks with several Brazilian universities and South African universities for the same.

How does BRICS Centre at Amity University contribute to the development of mutual understanding of BRICS cultures?

As mentioned in my previous response about the “Telebridge” event where approximately 40 Russian language students from AUH participated. By engaging in direct interaction with native Russian speakers, students didn’t only gain exposure to linguistic nuances, dialectical variations, and cultural insights, but they also showcased Indian culture to a global audience, thereby fostering mutual appreciation and intercultural dialogue. There are various other events which we organise which contribute to the development of mutual understanding of BRICS cultures. For example: the centre organised a workshop on “Exploring Russian Culture through Art & Craft” in collaboration with the Russian embassy in India, on 24th February 2025. Last year we hosted 6 members delegation from the embassy of People’s republic of China for a daylong event of “Understanding China, Chinese Language and Cultural exchanges between India and China” in collaboration with the chinese embassy. Our students also participate in various event organised by the BRICS embassies and win several prizes in various categories.

Russian learning students of AUH have won minimum 3 prizes every year since 2014 in annual inter-university competitions called the ‘”Days of Russian Language, Literature & Culture” organised by Russian Centre of Science and Culture, New Delhi. A team of 5 students and 2 faculties also participated in the World Festival of Youth and Students, Sochi, Russia in 2017.

Our students are going to participate in Chinese Language Day Celebrations at the Embassy of People’s Republic of China. Besides, there will be a call for Youth Delegation 2025, where few students of AUH will be participating.

What role do young people and the student community play in your centre’s initiatives and projects? Are there any international projects that involve young specialists?

Young people and the student community play a vital role in the Centre’s initiatives and projects. Our faculty and students are highly active, enthusiastic, and consistently engaged in the Centre’s activities. They are often at the forefront of both academic and outreach efforts. One of the key platforms for student and faculty engagement is our dedicated magazine on BRICS affairs, which invites contributions from scholars, diplomats, and members of the strategic community. This publication serves as a forum for critical analysis and aims to provide valuable insights to the policy-making community.

We also promote international academic exchange and collaboration. For example, one of our faculty members recently participated in the Visiting Professorship programme at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, where she delivered lectures to Russian students – an important step toward strengthening academic ties among BRICS countries.

Currently, we are actively developing a joint international research project focused on analysing the impact of BRICS expansion, in collaboration with stakeholders from Brazil and Russia. We also look forward to engaging with new BRICS members to identify and explore areas of cooperation, particularly in research and innovation. These initiatives provide meaningful opportunities for young scholars and specialists to participate in international dialogue and contribute to shaping the future of BRICS cooperation.

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