The department of military studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University was established in 1963 and in 1984 it became the department of defence and strategic studies.It shares a strong bond with the Indian Armed Forces. In 1994, the Indian Army established the Chhatrapati Shivaji Chair in policy studies. The department has unique courses such as scholars in residence programme under which several officers above the rank of colonel and brigadier from the Indian Army join the department as visiting scholars. A resident scholar programme has army officers on a sabbatical carrying out research and pursuing their academic interests.Every year, the department and the Indian Army organize the General BC Joshi Memorial Lecture which is delivered in rotation by the serving Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of the Air Staff.The department emphasizes on national security, geopolitical studies, military geography, strategic studies, international organization, international relations, military history, defence organisation and technology, Maratha military history and defence journalism.It offers an MA /MSc in defence and strategic studies with an intake of 30 seats with army officers and international students, M Phil and PhD in defence and strategic studies. This year, the department is starting three post-graduate full-time diploma courses of one year in disaster management and national security, counter-terrorism studies and defence journalism and national security. Semester and credit pattern will be followed for all the courses. The eligibility for all courses is graduation in any discipline. A separate entrance exam will be conducted for admission to all courses.Disaster Management and National SecurityIntake 20 SeatsFees Rs 15,000Focus will be on the causes of disasters and it will study and analyse how to minimise the impact and effect of disaster on national security.Students will learn management of the situation, response to the need of the people, evacuation process, distribution of food and issues related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfareThe course has employable opportunities in the government and private organisations. The course is beneficial to engineers, medical health representatives, environmental experts, rehabilitation workers and social workersNGO and international organisation such as World Bank, Development Bank, Red Cross and UNESCO offer various opportunities for trained disaster management professionals. Students with a post-graduate diploma in this subject can start their own consultancyCounter-Terrorism StudiesIntake 20 SeatsFees Rs 15,000The course will equip students and researchers with a detailed knowledge of history and evolution of terrorism, terrorist strategy, modus operandi, motives, organizational structure, psychology, and identity in order to assess the threat they pose and developing a counter strategy.The course also gives detailed information of contemporary terrorist groups and counter terrorism efforts at national and international level. Information operations would form an important cornerstone of the understanding of the subject.Journalists and reporters who want to specialize in national security and terrorism issues, pursue careers in think tanks and research institutions, help in pursuing opportunities in private risk analysis and conflict tracking firms, build expertise for career in-service officers from civil administration, police and the armed forces and help in preparing for various government competitive examinations.Defence journalism and national securityIntake 20 SeatsFees Rs 25,000Course will enable students and working journalists to learn about national interest, strategic relation and defence forces and their function and role in national security. The course is designed for students wanting to take up careers in mass media. The syllabus is designed to understand ground issues related to defence, armed forces and issues related to national security.The diploma individuals in print or electronic media as defence journalists and reporters who want to specialize in national security and related issues, careers in think tanks and research institutions and build expertise for career in-service journalists and officers from various institutions to build public relations.Vijay Khare M.Sc. Ph.D, Head, department of defence and strategic studies, Savitribai Phule Pune University

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