Why International Institute for Population Sciences?

Study @ IIPS

The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) serves as a regional Institute for Training and Research in Population Studies for the ESCAP region. It was established in Mumbai in July 1956, till July 1970 it was known as the Demographic Training and Research Centre (DTRC) and till 1985 it was known as the International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS). The Institute was re-designated to its present title in 1985 to facilitate the expansion of its academic activities and was declared as a 'Deemed to be University' in August 19, 1985 under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India. The recognition has facilitated the award of recognized degrees by the Institute itself and paved the way for further expansion of the Institute as an academic institution.

Started in 1956 under the joint sponsorship of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Government of India and the United Nations, it has established itself as the premier Institute for training and research in Population Studies for developing countries in the Asia and Pacific region. IIPS holds a unique position among all the regional centres, in that it was the first such centre to be started, and serves a much larger population than that served by any of the other regional centres. The Institute is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Besides teaching and research activities, the Institute also provides consultancy to the Government and Non-Government organizations and other academic institutions. Over the years, the Institute has helped in building a nucleus of professionals in the field of population and health in various countries of the ESCAP region. During the past 53 years, students from 42 different countries of Asia and the Pacific region, Africa and North America have been trained at the Institute. Many, who are trained at the Institute, now occupy key positions in the field of Population and Health in Government of various countries, Universities and Research Institutes as well as in reputed National and International organizations.

Objectives of the Institute

• To train persons from India and other countries in demography and related fields, including demographic aspects of family planning.
• To undertake scientific research on population problems which are of special importance to India and other countries in the ESCAP region.
• To collect, organize and disseminate demographic information about the population of India and other countries of the world.
• To provide services of research, evaluation, training, consultation and guidance related to demographic problems to government departments, public corporations or private establishments as deemed desirable in pursuance of the objective of the Society.
• To undertake, organize and facilitate study courses, conferences, lectures, seminars and the like to promote the aforesaid objectives.
• To undertake and provide for publication of journals and research papers, books and to establish, maintain libraries and information service in furtherance of the objectives of the Society.

Mission and Vision of the Institute

Mission

"The Institute will strive to be a centre of excellence on all population and relevant issues through high quality education, teaching and research. This will be achieved by (a) creating competent professionals, (b) generating and disseminating scientific knowledge and evidence, (c) collaboration and exchange of knowledge, and (d) advocacy and awareness"

Vision

"To position IIPS as a premier teaching and research institution in population sciences responsive to emerging national and global needs based on values of inclusion, sensitivity and rights protection."

Goals and Objectives

Creating competent professionals

• Double the output of graduates at various levels by 2015 and triple it by the year 2020.
• Benchmark the course contents, pedagogy and faculty strength with internationally recognized standards.
• Augment the faculty strength and improve the quality of faculty to ensure availability of multidisciplinary knowledge resources and skills to achieve the above two goals.

Generating and disseminating scientific knowledge and evidence

• Minimum of two research articles in peer reviewed journals (one preferably in International journal) per faculty per year
• Minimum of one new research project of national or international importance to be completed per year per department
• Organising once in two years an International conference focusing on policy or issues of current importance
• Organising once in two years one workshop on Technical and methodological advances by each department
• A scheme of incentives and dis-incentives be developed by the Executive Council of the Institute to promote the observance of the above requirements by each of the faculty members of the Institute.

Collaboration and exchange of knowledge

• Explore and initiate/establish minimum of 2 collaborations programmes with Indian (Government/ Private Sector) institutions / organizations in research and short- term training
• Each faculty to participate in exchange/ visiting programmes at least once in every five years within / outside the country. Ensure presence of at least one national and one international visiting faculty in IIPS during every semester.
• Make provision to appoint adjunct faculty on need basis.
• Two years Masters Degree students to have summer training / internship in collaborative institutions.
• Take measures for reducing the financial dependence of the Institute on funds from MOHFW to a level of 80% by 2015 and to 50% by 2020.

Advocacy and awareness

• Explore and initiate/establish minimum of 2 collaborations programmes with Indian (Government/ Private Sector) institutions / organizations in research and short- term training
• Raise the positive value of demography and population sciences as a developmental tool among political representatives and other strata of society through well coordinated advocacy efforts on an ongoing quantifiable basis.
• Strive and obtain within three years recognition for demography and population sciences as essential education qualifications for relevant positions in the national, state and local government setups through advocacy and awareness campaigns.

Function of the Institute

Teaching

The Institute offers the following regular teaching programmes:

• M.A./M.Sc Programme in Population Studies
• Master of Science in Biostatistics and Demography
• Master of Population Studies (MPS)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Population Studies
• M.A. in Population Studies (Distance Learning)
• Post Doctoral Fellowship(P.D.F.)
• Diploma in Health Promotion Education (DHPE)

Research

Apart from the teaching activities, the Institute also conducts a large number of research projects on various aspects of population. The Institute also undertakes evaluative studies and large-scale surveys. Emphasis is given on studies related to inter-relationship of various social and economic variables of the components of population change such as Fertility, Mortality and Migration.

The research projects of the Institute are mostly funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and also by the State Governments, World Bank, United Nations Population Fund, World Health Organization, International Labour Organization and other Government and Non-Government organizations.

Consultative Services

The Institute provides consultancy services and undertakes special studies on problems related to population at the request of the Government, the United Nations and other specialized agencies. Given the expertise of the staff in various areas of population, research methodology, etc., an active effort is being made to let the organizations which need short term consultancy services, know about the availability of persons.

Documentation

The Institute maintains an excellent library with most recent books on population and related topics.