Imagine a seed planted in 1936. That seed grew into what we now know as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. It is a leading institution in social work education. Today we stand before the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. This is not just any university. It is Asia’s oldest institute for professional social work education.
Initially, it was named the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work. The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust founded it. In 1944, it was renamed the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Twenty years later in 1964, the Government of India declared TISS a deemed university. This recognition came under the University Grants Commission Act.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences first started in Nagpada. Later it operated from Andheri. In 1954, TISS moved to its permanent campus in Deonar, Mumbai. This is now the Main Campus. In 2001, the campus expanded. It included the Malti Jal and Jal A. D. Naoroji Campus Annexe. This became known as the New Campus. TISS established a rural campus in Tuljapur, Maharashtra in 1986. Two more off-campuses opened in Guwahati and Hyderabad in 2011. TISS also supports centers across India. These centers are in places like Leh, Ladakh and Port Blair.
TISS offers programs focused on social sciences. You can pursue post-graduate and doctoral degrees here. Studies include Habitat Studies, Management and Labour Studies and Disaster Studies. There are also programs in Development Studies, Education, Gender Studies and Health Studies. Other options include Law, Media and Cultural Studies, Public Policy, Rural Development and Social Work.
Since its start, TISS has focused on field action. The institute responded to disasters like the Partition of India and the Bhopal disaster. They also helped after the Uttarakhand floods. TISS initiatives have shaped public policy in India. One example is India’s labor welfare laws.
Notable figures have appreciated TISS’s social service work. These include Eleanor Roosevelt, Jawaharlal Nehru and Niels Bohr. Even the United Nations recognizes TISS’s contributions.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences has a history of collaboration. It works with institutions in India and abroad. These include the University of Chicago, the London School of Economics and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. TISS also partners with Sciences Po and 12 universities under the Erasmus Mundus program.
In Mumbai, TISS introduced a Secular Ethics for Higher Education course in 2014. The Dalai Lama attended the inauguration. He suggested that women’s leadership may be more effective due to their sensitivity to suffering.
TISS has four campuses. They are in Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad and Guwahati. The institute’s governing board includes representatives from various bodies. These are the Government of India, the Government of Maharashtra and the University Grants Commission. Faculty members and external experts also participate.
The Vice Chancellor acts as the academic and administrative head. As of September 25, 2023, Professor Manoj Kumar Tiwari holds this position.
In 2024, the National Institutional Ranking Framework ranked TISS 98th overall in India. It ranked 58th among universities.
Many notable individuals are alumni of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Medha Patkar is a social activist. Anu Aga is the former chairman of Thermax. Purnima Mane is the President and CEO of Pathfinder International. Akash Khurana is an actor. Raju Kendre is a social entrepreneur.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences continues to evolve. It addresses current social issues. It provides valuable education and resources. It contributes significantly to India’s development. As we conclude our visit today, remember the motto of TISS: Re-Imagining Futures.