Mumbai News: TISS Suspends All Academic Collaborations And MoUs With Turkey And Azerbaijan Citing National Security Concerns

Mumbai: In a significant development, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, has directed all its Schools and Centres to immediately cease any collaboration with institutions in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The directive, issued through an official circular, also instructs the cancellation of any Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) that may have already been signed with entities in these countries.

“This is to inform you that due to the present situation and for the security of the nation, all the Schools and Centres are requested not to sign any MoU with Turkey and Azerbaijan until further orders,” the TISS administration stated in the circular.

“If any MoU has already been signed, the same shall be treated as defunct and no activity shall be carried out,” it added. The circular further underscored that “TISS stands with the nation” and clarified that the order was issued with the approval of the competent authority.

Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Acting Vice-Chancellor of TISS, Professor Manoj Tiwari, confirmed the decision, describing it as a measure taken in the national interest.

“We don’t have any ongoing agreements and we won’t be signing any anymore either,” he said. “It’s a futile exercise to establish academic ties with nations that support a country (Pakistan) that’s a safe haven for terrorists.”

Professor Tiwari highlighted India’s history of humanitarian outreach, referencing the country’s swift assistance to Turkey in the wake of the devastating 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.

“India helped Turkey during one of its worst disasters by launching Operation Dost, sending personnel and relief material to assist in rescue efforts. Our country extended COVID-19 vaccines to nations across the world. Yet, some countries have chosen to support a hostile neighbour that harbours anti-India elements. In such a scenario, it is our moral and national responsibility to sever institutional ties.”

Operation Dost (translated as Operation Friend) was a large-scale humanitarian initiative led by the Indian government to assist both Turkey and Syria after the earthquakes in February 2023, which left thousands dead and injured. The Indian rescue teams, including National Disaster Response Force personnel and medical professionals, were among the first to reach the disaster zones.

The TISS administration has gone a step further and urged individual faculty members and students to avoid any personal or informal collaborations with academic or research institutions based in Turkey or Azerbaijan. Though not explicitly mentioned in the circular, senior officials have communicated this recommendation internally.

The development reflects a broader sentiment of solidarity with the government’s geopolitical stance, as educational institutions increasingly align their foreign collaborations with national policy considerations in the wake of the conflict with neighbouring Pakistan.