Established in 1990 the Centre for Canadian Studies has been one of the vibrant units of Himachal Pradesh University playing a significant role in exploring the areas of collaborations between India and Canada. The centre organises conferences, seminars and workshops related to the bilateral issues, exchange programmes with Canada through Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) as mediator and publishes literature on various themes of India and Canada. The centre has successfully facilitated Indian and Canadian universities and research institutions in identifying and developing effective partnerships, held important institutional dialogues and develop collaborative research projects on areas of common concern of the two countries. The centre is organising an international seminar on India-Canada Relations: The Contemporary Dynamics on March 20-21, 2020 but due to lock down on account Covid 19 the seminar has been postponed indefinitely. Now we are planning to go for an international webinar in the coming months. The centre also plans to undertake workshops on Canadian study permit application process and visa related issues. We believe that sharing of ideas and research through conferences and seminars and exchange programmes for faculty and students will lead not just to improved understanding on various issues between the two countries but also to productive long term research partnerships.

Academic activities conducted by the Centre for Canadian Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla-5

1. Institution/Department/College Information

• Name of the Institute: Centre for Canadian Studies
• Director: Prof. Harish K. Thakur
• Assistant Director: Dr Abhishek Negi
• Established: Since 1990
• Affiliation: Shastri Indo Canadian Institute (SICI), New Dehli
• Telephone No.: 0177-2833846
• Mobile No.: 9418008900
• E-mail Address: canadianstudieshpu@gmail.com, harish.070@gmail.com

2. Objectives of the Centre

• Organising Conferences, Seminars and Workshops on the theme of India and Canada.
• Exchange programmes with Canada through SICI as mediator.
• Publishing Books on various themes of India and Canada.
• Signing MOUs with Canadian Universities for various Academic activities.
• Promoting research at the level of MPhil and PhD on the themes of India and Canada.

3. International/National Conferences/Seminars organized

• National Seminar on Sustainable Bio fuels Development in India and Canada: Opportunities and Challenges. The seminar was sponsored by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI), New Delhi 16th -17 March 2010, Shimla.
• International Seminar on Economic and Political Basis of Inter-Regional Disparity: India and Canada Sponsored by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI), New Delhi 17th -18 March 2011, Shimla.
• International Seminar on Hydro Power Development held at Himachal Pradesh University, Sponsored by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi Tuesday, 26 March 2013, Peterhoff, Shimla.
• International Seminar on Safe Spaces for Women, organized by Centre for Canadian Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Sponsored by Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi, 30th March 2013 at H P University, Shimla.
• International Conference on Public Policy, Governance and Democracy: Experiences from India & Canada held on 28th - 29th March, 2014, Centre for Canadian Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer Hill, Shimla.
• International Conference on National and International Concerns for Gender Justice:  India and Canada, (Centre for Canadian Studies) Shimla, Sponsored by ICSSR, (New Delhi) Himachal Pradesh University, 27th–28th March, 2015.
• International Congress on Etudes québécoises en Inde et à l’étranger (Quebec Studies in India and abroad) held from 29^th - 31^st March, 2017 in Shimla.

4. Special Contributions of the Faculty Member

•     Paper presented in the International/National level Seminars, Symposia & Conferences in India and Abroad: Paper presented in Bangkok International Conference on Social Science (BICSS)
•     Research Papers & Books Published: 3 Books Published & 4 Research Papers published
•     Post Doctoral Fellowships (PDFs) supervised: 3
•     Research Guided(PhD): PhDs - 4
•     PGDHRD Diploma Projects: 19
•     Important Ongoing Projects: UGC Project
•     Achievements during the year: As an Exchange programme of SICI a student visited Ms Savhanna Wilson, from University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
   

5. Steps taken by the Institute/Department

•     Meetings held on 27 March 2014 on the agenda of taking forward the Memorandum of Understanding between the University of the Fraser Valley and Himachal Pradesh University.
•     Meeting held at Centre of University of Fraser Valley, BBA Course, GGDSD College, Chandigarh, to take forward the MOU on 23rd April, 2014.
•     A visit to the Centre of University of Fraser Valley, BBA Course, GGDSD College, Chandigarh, in May,2014 for discussions on the BBA Course in HP University.
•     A visit by the Vice Chancellor, Provost and other officials to the Campus regarding the BBA course to be started 2015.
•     International Seminar on India-Canada Relations: The Contemporary Dynamics scheduled to be held on March 20-21, 2020 has been postponed indefinitely in view of COVID-19 under the advisory issued by Department of Health & Family Welfare and UGC vide D.O. No,F.1- 14/20120.
•     A Minor Research Project Exporing the Zones of Collaboration between India and Canada in 21^st Century awarded on July 06, 2021 to Dr. Bhawana Sharma and Prof. Harish K. Thakur submitted in December, 2021.