'Six Kilos of Books': Sociologist from HSE University-St Petersburg Undertakes an Internship at the University of Delhi
Evgeniya Kuziner, academic supervisor of the new Master's programme 'Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation', came back after the internship at the University of Delhi (India). For three weeks, she explored local research practices, searched for like-minded scientists, and planned joint projects. Read on to find out about the trip to the Taj Mahal.
— Why did you choose the University of Delhi, Delhi School of Economics, for your internship?
— This is one of the significant universities in India. This is the university where one of the faculty members was Amartya Sen, a Nobel Prize winner in Economics. We have been cooperating with the colleagues from the Department of Sociology at this university for about two years: Prof Anuja Agrawal, head of the department, took part in the conference of the Centre for Youth Studies, held at HSE University, as one of the key speakers; besides, some professors from the university attended the International Partners' Week. We have similar research interests, so we maintain and develop partnerships.
In autumn 2025, HSE sent invitations for participation in the contest for long-term academic internships. Thanks to it, professors and researchers of the university can work in international research or educational organisations. The team of the Centre for Youth Studies saw it as a great opportunity to visit the partner university and department, compare notes with the colleagues, get to know each other better and discuss joint projects. It was important for me to pick up the academic and educational practices of our partners and find colleagues with similar research interests.
— How are the approaches to sociological research in Russia and India different?
— India has its own sociological traditions and practices of student training. At the Department of Sociology at the University of Delhi, scientists mainly use qualitative research methods; they engage in ethnography, which is a long-term fieldwork. Among the popular research topics in India are caste systems, social and gender inequality, and religious research. It's interesting that all research discussions at the University of Delhi are held in English.
A PhD degree is the standard highest academic degree in many countries, including India. However, in Russia, the system is different: apart from candidate’s, there is the doctoral degree. My international PhD degree was equated with the doctoral degree, though its academic trajectory corresponds to the candidate's own. Indian colleagues, especially those who are to get a PhD degree in the near future, were very surprised that in Russia, one had to do much more to receive a doctoral degree than the candidate's.
— How was your work in India structured?
— The locals helped me a lot. I would even say that they acted like guardians in the process of adaptation. Each morning, they took me by a tuk-tuk to the university, organised campus and city tours and brought me back to the hotel.
The University of Delhi provided me with a separate office. Master's and PhD students, and professors organised real pilgrimages to me to get acquainted, discuss research interests and experience, and exchange publications. I also managed to attend the pre-submission of a PhD student—a very interesting event, which is a little different in the level of formality compared to our practice.
Moreover, I took part in several key sociological research events: attended a research seminar on modern society in India, which was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU was awarded the status of the best university in India in 2017). The event celebrated the retirement of one of the leading Indian sociologists, Professor Surinder Jodhka.
For students, I delivered lectures about the projects of the Centre for Youth Studies and educational programmes at HSE University-St Petersburg. I told them about our master's programme 'Modern Social Analysis', PhD programme and International Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme. I think a lot of students got interested.
Except for the activities at the Centre for Youth Studies and the faculty, I also deliver a course at the Institute of Asian and African Studies related to sociology. The trip helped me to structure it and find new materials.
— What were your relations with the students of the University of Delhi like?
— As a researcher of the youth and a professor, it was important for me to communicate with students a lot. To find out how they live, what they listen to and read. They were my companions in an informal exploration of India.
I managed to attend various cultural events: an exhibition of an Indian photographer, an ethnic dance show; together with PhD students, we went to the cinema to watch a modern Indian romcom. They were genuinely surprised that many Russians knew the films like 'Seeta Aur Geeta' and 'Disco Dancer'—for them, these are already 'old'. They also took me to the festival Gita Mahotsav in Kurukshetra, in the neighbouring state of Haryana. Outside the capital, the world and people are completely different; it is another amazing experience for me as a researcher.
The students helped me to organise a trip to the Taj Mahal, gave me a tour around the sights, bookshops, thrift stores and markets in Delhi. I was curious to experience this part of life in the capital.
I came back from the internship with six kilos of books about sociological research, India and castes. By the way, in each bookshop, I saw works by Fyodor Dostoevsky. When I shared that I visited his grave several times in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, many considered this fact as if I met a star.
— Did the internship inspire you for the new project ideas?
— The trip strengthened the foundation for developing partnerships between HSE University-St Petersburg, the Centre for Youth Studies and the University of Delhi. We genuinely hope that in the future, we will be able to implement a project on academic international cooperation, and there will be opportunities for holding student expeditions to India. In this case, the University of Delhi can become a good basis for research.
Shortly, we are starting to develop a programme of joint student research seminars. This autumn, we are waiting for our colleagues to attend our conference, and we are even thinking about organising a Russian-Indian section.
— For whom would such internships be useful?
— Internships are a wonderful opportunity to broaden your international experience and horizons. For me, the trip became a chance to build up my 'research capital' and expand my academic network. Three weeks turned out to be enough to get acquainted with the colleagues' practices and dive into the atmosphere of another university. Going for a longer period is worthy if you have a detailed research plan.
