In the convocation ceremony on 14th October, 2025, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chair, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, India, was presented with an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Guelph. Dr. Swaminathan is an outstanding scientist and a global leader who has made holistic contributions to medicine, healthcare, global policy, philanthropy and social welfare.
In a move to further strengthen the research collaborations between the University of Guelph, Canada, and the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), India, an MoU was signed by Prof. Shayan Sharif, Vice President Research, University of Guelph, and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chair, MSSRF, on October 14, 2025.
Meher Fiha successfully completed her MRP, "Negotiating Identity and Belonging: A Study of Second-Generation South Asian Immigrant Experience in Derek Mascarenhas’ Coconut Dreams," (advisor: Gregor Campbell) in April 2025.
Dilshan Fernando successfully defended his PhD dissertation, "Future Life How? Charting the Destigmatization of Disability in Titan, India," on May 6, 2025.
In May, I had the chance to learn about the Blue Diamond Society, the first organization in Nepal to work specifically on LGBTQIA+ issues. Founded in 2001 with just seven members, it has grown from a grassroots effort into a nationally recognized movement focused on health, advocacy, and human rights.
Dr. Guneet Kaur, a professor at the School of Engineering, University of Guelph, is appointed as CIRCLE’s director for a three-year term, effective May 1, 2025.
During my time in Nepal with the International Development Nepal Field School, my most memorable intercultural experience was in the rural community of Gorkhe, where the course focused on rural sustainable development. From the moment we arrived, the warmth and wisdom of this community were immediately apparent as we were welcomed with open arms and open hearts.
Something I learnt immediately upon entering Gorkhe was how deeply rooted kindness is in Nepali culture. We were greeted with beautiful music, warm smiles, scarfs, and flowers upon our arrival.
These blog posts have been contributed by student participants of the Nepal Field School (May 5-26, 2025), the theme of which is "Culture and Sustainable Development." During the field school, students learn about current development dynamics, opportunities and challenges in the context of Nepal. They encounter the history and culture of Nepal through visits to historic sites, meet with local development and human rights organisations, and learn about the country's culture, politics and economy from local experts.
Students visit three different geographic regions of Nepal to understand regional variations in development issues and culture: the mountains of Ilam in eastern Nepal, Chitwan National Park in the southern Terai, and numerous sites around the Kathmandu Valley. Participants in the field school include students from International Development Studies, Political Science, Anthropology, Environmental Science, Biological Science, Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, and Criminal Justice and Public Policy. The field school is led by Dr. Andrea Paras (Director of the Guelph Institute of Development Studies), in partnership with Broken Earth and Accomplish Holidays.
Since arriving in the Ilam region of Nepal, it’s been hard to miss the sprawling hills of tea gardens. They line every hillside, and fill the views with lush, orderly rows of bushes. Tea is Ilam district’s primary export, and a key feature of the local economy.