Training of Master Trainers on Community Based Participatory Research

Social responsibility in higher education is not merely an administrative priority- it is the very means by which education reclaims its revolutionary power. In India, this vision is being institutionally reinforced through a series of policy shifts that reimagine the role of higher education in public life. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 articulates this transformation clearly, calling for an education system that cultivates socially responsible citizens, nurtures ethical reasoning, and bridges the gap between universities and communities. Complementary initiatives such as Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) 2.0 and the University Grants Commission (UGC) Guidelines on Fostering Social Responsibility and Community Engagement further embed this ethos within the structure of higher education.

To operationalize this vision, the UGC mandated the preparation of skilled educators capable of facilitating field-based learning through community engagement. In response, the Training of Master Trainers (MTs) on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Methodology was launched as a flagship initiative to strengthen institutional capacities for community engagement. This was led by Dr. Rajesh Tandon, UNESCO Co-Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education and was implemented by PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia) at seven independent higher education institutions across the country.

The program equipped educators with the theoretical understanding and practical competencies necessary to embed CBPR principles within teaching and research. These trainings sought to build a network of educators capable of fostering socially responsible universities that learn with and from communities. In doing so, the MTP operationalized the NEP’s call to recognize local wisdom, rural innovation, and indigenous knowledge as vital to India’s collective intellectual future.

The detailed reflections and outcomes from each participating institution are presented in the individual institutional reports that follow. You can also read the consolidated training report on the official UGC website- https://unnatbharatabhiyan.gov.in/public/uploads/documents/17314944596734823b9af92CBPR_Training_Report.pdf