The funding was one of 33 thematic partnerships between UK and Indian Universities announced by the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) at the end of January. 

UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) started in April 2006 with the aim of enhancing educational links between India and the UK.

In the last five years, UKIERI has played a pivotal role in establishing a step change in the educational relations between the two countries. In recognition of the substantial achievements and building on the success of this initiative, the programme has been extended for 5 years from 2011 to 2016. The extension was announced by the UK Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron and Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in July 2010.

Swansea University’s partnership project with Burdwan University aims to establish a Centre of Gerontological Research in Burdwan University by sharing examples of good practice from the Centre of Innovative Ageing (CIA); develop postgraduate research in Ageing Studies in Burdwan by establishing the infrastructure to support research students, through initiating a PhD research programme building on existing research conducted by the CIA; and by developing a sustainable relationship between the two gerontological research centres through a joint staff publication strategy; a cross-national research strategy; and a dissemination strategy

Vanessa Burholt, Professor of Gerontology and Director of the Centre for Innovative Ageing at Swansea University (pictured) said: “In India, in 2011 around 7% of the population were aged 60 years or more. However, over the next 40 years India’s population will shift from a young age profile to an older profile. By 2050 it is anticipated that there will be 316 million older people in the population, accounting for approximately 20% of the population as a whole.

“In India, discourse that ‘problematizes’ population ageing flourishes as there is not strong evidence for a counter-argument. The media frequently refers to the fragmentation of the Indian family and heralds the disintegration of traditional family systems. However, these articles tend to be speculative and are not underpinned by robust data.  Our collaborative research programme with The Centre of Gerontology and Burdwan University will help to fill gaps in knowledge about the ageing Indian population and we expect our findings to be translated into actions that have a positive impact on the lives of older people.”