About Us
About CESS
Vision
Social Transformation through and with Education
Mission
To engage in Research, Policy Advocacy and Capacity Building in the broad spheres of Education, Public Health and India Studies.
Centre for Educational and Social Studies (CESS) is a Bengaluru-based, not-for-profit institution established in 2007, dedicated to positioning education as a driver of social and national development.
Recognised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education, Government of India, as a research institution, CESS focuses on work that is evidence-led, relevant to current policy directions and meaningful to institutions on the ground.
Since its establishment, CESS has engaged with regulatory bodies, universities, schools, policymakers, faculty, researchers and students to strengthen education systems through research, capacity building and policy engagement.
What Defines CESS?
- Evidence-led, policy-relevant work
- Deep engagement with institutions on the ground
- Long-term focus on reform, not one-time interventions
Recognitions
- Recognised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Ministry of Education, Government of India, as a research institution
- Recognised as a Research Centre for Management Studies by VTU
- Contributed to NEP 2020 policy consultations, conducted 120+ awareness programmes and 50+ capacity-building initiatives, reached 1 lakh+ stakeholders, and partnered with 200+ institutions
Collaborations
- Strategic partnerships with institutions such as CMDR (Dharwad) and ICFAI Society, Hyderabad
- Engagement with schools, HEIs and government bodies for research, policy analysis and institutional development
Vision for the Future
CESS envisions itself as a national thought leader in education and social studies, driving transformation through research, policy analysis and institutional development. Our long-term aspiration is to evolve into a recognised centre of educational excellence, shaping discourse, influencing policy and creating models that inspire institutions across India and beyond.
What We Do
Foundational Pillars
Interconnected domains that define our mission and give direction to our activities.
Education & Quality
01Strengthening institutional practices across school and higher education systems through curriculum reform, quality assurance and faculty development.
Education is the primary domain of CESS's work. Engagement in this area focuses on strengthening teaching–learning processes and institutional practices across school and higher education contexts.
Key Areas
- Curriculum and Classroom Practices
- Quality Assurance, Accreditation and Institutional Planning
- Teacher and Faculty Development
- NEP 2020 aligned Academic Restructuring
- Education-focused Reports and Visual Data Outputs
Major Studies
- Four-Year Undergraduate Programme as per NEP 2020 – Karnataka Study
- Unleashing the Potential: Sectoral Study of Kalyana Karnataka Region
- Digital Preparedness among Higher Education Institutions
- Technology in Higher Education – Virtual Teaching & Learning
- Sri Aurobindo's Integral Education Philosophy and its Application
- Annadaana in India – A Historical and Functional Perspective (Taylor & Francis; translated into 9 Indian languages)
- Accreditation as an Enabler of Regulation – NAAC & NIRF Analyses
- Policy Framework for Post-Pandemic Development and Self-Reliance
Policy Analysis
02Interpreting education policies in relation to institutional realities and implementation contexts through evidence-based submissions and consultations.
CESS engages with policy and governance to support institutions in navigating regulatory frameworks and systemic change.
Key Areas
- Education Policies and Draft Regulations
- Accreditation and Quality-related Indicators
- Sectoral and Rural Development Studies
- Policy Briefs, Proceedings and Consultation Documents
- Structured Dialogue with Policymakers, Academics and Practitioners
Strategic Policy Contributions
- Expert submissions on NEP 2020, autonomy and accreditation
- Consultations on draft UGC regulations and HECI proposals
- National-level NEP stakeholder consultations reaching several thousand participants
- Evidence-based policy briefs on NIRF, digital learning, NAAC grading patterns, and institutional readiness
- Collaborative policy dialogues with ICSSR, KSHEC, NAAC, AIU, IIMs, universities and civil society partners
Policy work at CESS is grounded in research evidence, consultation processes and institutional experience.
Capacity Building
03Strengthening people and institutions through structured engagement — over 40 workshops and 200+ seminars in the past five years.
Capacity building is one of CESS's most visible and sustained areas of work. Our programmes are designed to equip educators, researchers, administrators and institutional leaders with practical skills, conceptual clarity and evidence-informed approaches to academic and administrative practice.
Programmes Designed For
- Teachers, faculty members and academic administrators
- Early-career researchers and research scholars
- University leadership and governing bodies
- Education and health sector officials
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students
Scale of Engagement (Past Five Years)
- Over 40 workshops and faculty development programmes conducted across institutions
- More than 200 seminars, consultations and awareness programmes on education, governance and policy
- Engagement with a wide spectrum of stakeholders through institutional collaborations, public-sector initiatives and thematic programmes
Bharatiya Management
04Exploring Indic perspectives on leadership, ethics and institutional practice through the Prabandhan repository and IKS integration.
Bharatiya Management anchors CESS's work on Indian Knowledge Systems within contemporary education and management settings.
Key Areas
- Indic Perspectives on Leadership, Ethics etc.
- Integration of Indian Knowledge Traditions into Management and Education
- Development of Teaching and Research Resources
- Prabandhan – Bharatiya Management Repository
- Programmes for faculty, students and practitioners
Programmes
Flagship Initiatives
900+
Faculty & Researchers
Research Learning Community (RLC)
A vibrant national network of 900+ faculty members and researchers, enabling peer learning, mentoring circles, methodological discussions and collaborative research skill-building across disciplines.
150–200
Students & Scholars
Sankalpa Internship Programme
A structured internship model through which 150–200 students and scholars gain hands-on experience in research design, field studies, policy reviews, academic writing and event documentation, supported by guided mentoring.
25+
Public Dialogues
CESS Talks
Expert-led conversations exploring themes such as NEP implementation, digital universities, sustainability, youth engagement and public governance — offering grounded perspectives through a documented archive of dialogues.
5,000+
Stakeholders Monthly
Infographics
Monthly data visuals reaching 5,000+ stakeholders, translating complex education statistics, policy updates and sectoral trends into clear, accessible evidence snapshots.
Prabandhan
A curated digital library of IKS-based articles, books and case studies, offering institutions and researchers a comprehensive gateway to Indic perspectives on leadership and management.
200+
Institutions Partnered
NEP Ready Initiative
Launched in 2021 as a structured effort to help Higher Education Institutions implement NEP 2020 through a three-level framework — Aware, Act and Achieve — enabling institutions to understand the policy, prepare roadmaps and receive mentoring support.