The Learning Exchange Series offers a set of online introductory classes that give you a glimpse of our classrooms and open up meaningful conversations on development, environment, governance, and climate justice. Each 40-minute session is led by University faculty who use varied pedagogy to introduce key ideas, raise critical questions, and share perspectives that shape contemporary development thinking and practice.

These short classes are ideal for prospective students and early professionals who wish to learn through interactive sessions and explore how major societal questions intersect with everyday life, public systems, and the world around us.

Why join the Learning Exchange Series?

• Short, high-impact classes led by University faculty
• Exposure to key debates shaping India and the world
• A chance to experience postgraduate-style learning
• Space to ask questions and engage with expert perspectives

Who should attend?

This series is designed for undergraduate students, recent graduates, and young professionals who are curious about how environment, governance, climate change, and development shape our everyday lives. It will be especially valuable for those considering postgraduate study in fields such as development, public policy, education, climate change, environmental studies, economics, or the social sciences. Teachers, early-career practitioners, NGO workers, and individuals working in community engagement or public systems will also benefit from the conceptual clarity and practical perspectives offered by these sessions. Anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of contemporary issues and build a more informed, reflective view of the world is invited to join.

About the sessions

Session 1: Environment and development — Making sense of a shared world

Revati Pandya and Gautam Ganapathy

Date: 7 Jan 2026 

What does the environment mean to us, and what do we mean to the environment? Where do we go looking for it, and how do we understand what constitutes it?

This session explores the ​“environment” as both ecological and social, showing how deeply intertwined these worlds are. Through examples and discussion, we examine the multiple meanings and values people attach to the environment, and the fundamental ways in which environment and development shape one another.

This is a reflective and thought-provoking class for anyone interested in nature, society, and the spaces where they meet.

Session 2: The Preamble — India’s Constitutional compass for governance and development

Narayana A

Date: 21 Jan 2026 

The Preamble of the Indian Constitution is invoked constantly today — but what does it actually tell us about India’s governance framework and development agenda?

This session offers a close reading of the Preamble to understand its text, intent, and continuing relevance. Through a contemporary lens, we explore how the Preamble anchors India’s democratic vision and guides public institutions, citizenship, justice, and development priorities.

A timely session for students and those interested in public policy, governance, citizenship, or social change.

Session 3: Climate negotiations and equity — Understanding a global process

Aravindhan Nagarajan

Date: Yet to be decided

Where does the world stand in confronting climate change today? Are countries like India part of the solution or part of the problem? And what exactly happens when representatives from nearly 190 nations gather each year for global climate negotiations?

This session unpacks how climate negotiations work and examines them through the lens of equity and justice. We look at how the global South and the global North position themselves, what is at stake, and how questions of fairness shape the global climate agenda.

An essential session for students and early practitioners curious about climate politics, international relations, and sustainability.