About CESS — CESS

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.