Admissions 2024 Integrated Programmes

Department of Social Work

Dr. Kiran Thampi

Designation : Head of the Department and Assistant Professor,Honorary Fellow, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland (2024-27)

Qualification : Ph.D

Email-ID : kiran@rajagiri.edu

Dr. Kiran Thampi is an academic and researcher in the field of social work for the past 19 years, currently serving as the Head of the Department of Social Work at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous) in Cochin, Kerala, India. He is an approved research guide under Mahatma Gandhi University and has held the position of Assistant Director of the Office of International Relations since 2012. He also serves as the President of Indian Council of Social Welfare, Kerala State Branch from the year 2024 onwards.

In recognition of his significant research in the field of International Social Work Education, Dr. Thampi was honoured by the European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) in 2023. Furthermore, he has been appointed as an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, effective in 2024, thereby enhancing his international academic stature. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Health and Human Services at Nazareth College, USA, during the summer A Semester in 2015, and has undertaken teaching assignments at various international institutions, including participation in the German Academic Exchange Programme (DAAD).

Dr. Thampi holds a PhD and has conducted government-funded research focusing on the organizational practices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In 2022, he led an international project funded by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), collaborating with partners from Israel and Australia. His editorial contributions include membership on the editorial review board of the International Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, as well as serving as a peer reviewer for several esteemed journals in the fields of social work and mental health.

His research and publication interests encompass integrated health models, participatory project planning and management, mental health issues among the elderly and youth, caregiver support in palliative care, and the broader domain of International Social Work. In addition to his academic and research endeavours, Dr. Thampi serves as a consultant for NGOs and has conducted impact assessments for corporate and governmental agencies. He also possesses a background in yoga teacher training and conducts training sessions for various organizations, including international universities, thereby promoting holistic well-being and mindfulness practices.

  • 2018-PhD (Social Work), M G University, Kottayam
  • 2008-M. Phil (Psychiatric Social Work), Bharatidasan University
  • 2004-MSW (Medical & Psychiatric Social Work), M.G University, Kottayam
  • 2011-present    Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kalamassery 
  • 2010-2011    Lecturer cum Community Organizer in National Service Scheme, Training and Orientation Centre (TOC) , Rajagiri College
  • 2005-2010    Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous), Kalamassery
  • Institutional partner lead for DAAD Transcultural Interdisciplinary International Partnership Project 2023 with Protestant University of Applied Sciences, Germany, 2023
  • Completed Research Project funded by International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) on the theme ‘Practices, priorities and challenges in student mobility programmes for field education: Developing supervision framework for better outcomes’ in collaboration with Hebrew University of Jerusalem and University of South Australia, 2022
  • Research Lead, Impact assessment of three CSR projects implemented by Cochin Shipyard Ltd, 2021
  • Principal Investigator: Rapid assessment of the burden of care due to COVID 19 among families of institutionalised children in Kerala, Women and Child Development-ICPS, Govt of Kerala, 2020
  • Project Director, UGC- UKIERI (2017-20)
  • Field Investigator, Evaluation of Right to Education, KEPCR, Govt of Kerala,2015
  • UGC-Minor Research Project titled “Organizational Practices of Non-Government Organizations in Ernakulam”. Sanction No and Date: MRP (H)-1751/11-12/KLMG054/UGC-SWRO 13th July 2012
  • Evaluation officer, Dheen Dayal Scheme, Govt of India
  • Project lead: Social Audit of AVARD (NGO) for 5 years’ scheme under Puthukavu Watershed Management Project, 2012
  • Project lead: Social Audit of IHSDP in Paravoor Municipality ,2010
  • Research consultant for Deen Dayal Scheme Evaluation study, Govt of India,2009-2010.
  • Research consultant for evaluation study on SSA in Kalamassery conducted by Rajagiri Research Institute, Govt of Kerala
  • Field Investigator for the research on effectiveness of RSBY, CHIYAK conducted by Rajagiri Research Institute,2010
  • Research member in Socio-economic study for town & country planning department, Cochin Corporation,2009
  • Research on ‘Prevention of substance abuse among adults and role of continuing education centers in Kerala’ for State resource center in 2008
  • Research consultant for the study conducted on Street Food Vendors, Cochin Corporation, project proposed by Ministry of Food and Agriculture,2008
  • Coordinator, Mass Social Audit, Nedumkandam Block, 2008
  • Resource person for the two-day Residential training programme on “Leadership and Management Skills” organised by KRC, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in coordination with Kerala Water Authority, Govt.of Kerala for the Middle level functionaries of Jal Jeevan Mission, Jan 2023
  • Resource person for K DAT Career Counselling session conducted for nodal teachers of Higher Secondary Schools organised by Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Govt of Kerala, Nov 2022
  • Conducted a training session titled ‘Adolescent Resource person for the two day Residential training programme on “Leadership and Management Skills” organised by KRC, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences in coordination with Kerala Water Authority, Govt.of Kerala for the Middle level functionaries of Jal Jeevan Mission, Oct 2022
  • Resource person for KSRTC SWIFT training for functionaries on Professional etiquette, Communication, Stress management, Mental Health and Service orientation, March 2022
  • Resource person for the theme ‘Transition to Adulthood: Realising Opportunity for Educators’ for the teachers of Rajagiri College of Management and Applied Sciences, Kakkanad, Dec 2021
  • Resource person for the theme 'Participatory Planning' in the 'Participatory Planning, Implementation and O&M on Har Ghar Jal' capacity building programmes for middle-level management conducted by RCSS (Key Resource Centre) under National Jal Jeevan Mission, Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI, 2021
  • Resource person for the theme ‘Advocacy, communication and social mobilization and social work practice in urban setting’ in the ‘Awas Par Samvaad’ Discussion programme conducted by Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous) jointly with Cochin Corporation and LSGD, Govt of Kerala in connection with PMAY (U), Govt of India, Sep 2021
  • Gave an Invited lecture in International Summer University in Social Work 2020 organised by HESSO, Switzerland on “Community engagement and Social Justice in the context of Pandemic”, June 2020
  • Resource person - ‘Yoga and retirement’ for Employees of Federal bank as a part of Corporate training project undertaken by Rajagiri (since 2016 till date)
  • Resource person- leadership training sessions/Life skill training for National service scheme programme officers’ training programme conducted by NSS ETI (since 2011 till date)
  • Training for the trainers in Maithri Suicide prevention project on “training methods and strategies”, January 2020
  • Session on “Projects and extension activities” in the FDP programme organised by NUALS on the theme “Skill Based Learning: Restructuring Legal Pedagogy”, Dec 2019
  • Key speaker and panellist for a session on “Australia’s signature initiatives-New Colombo Plan and an India Economic strategy to 2035: Navigating from potential to delivery”, December 2019 organised by Australian Consulate, Chennai
  • Session on participatory research methods and techniques in International Summer University in Social Work, July 2019
  • Training given on Psychological First aid (PFA) for Rajagiri students for Sparsham 2018 programme for flood affected families in Kottapuram
  • PRA workshop, Sep 2018-UNICEF Project in association with KAPS and KeSCPCR - Voices of children after floods
  • Session for Directors, coordinators and team members of Childline partners on Stress Management in State level Midterm review of Child protection during recovery and rehabilitation of Kerala Flood, Nov 2018
  • PRA Workshops for Social Work students in KE College, Mar Athanatious College, BCM College, Devagiri College, St Thomas College, Sahantigiri College (Various years from 2011 till date)
  • PRA Workshop at Vijayapuram Social Service Society for the facilitators and staff members of Community Action Project, Kottayam-July 2017
  • Session on " Human Resource, identifying partners, working with statutory private agencies; team work, family time, management etc" for the caretakers of old age homes organized by NISD and Rajagiri OutREACH. 2017
  • Session on ‘Social Mobilization’ for the field officers in Rubber training institute (Rubber Board, Govt of India), Kottayam, March 2017.
  • Session on Participatory research and PRA for ICSSR Sponsored Research Methodology workshop, Feb 2016 organized by Research Institute, Rajagiri
  • Conducted 4 day certification programme on ‘Employee Counselling’ for Federal bank officers, 2014 at Rajagiri Buisiness School, Kakkanad
  • Consultancy for Comprehensive Tribal Development Project, District administration, Nilamboor Municipality, 2014
  • Session on practical issues on “Family counselling, trafficking and harassment in public places” at police club as a part of Gender awareness Generation programme under women’s cell of Police Department,2009
  • Session on “Mental health at workplace” at BPCL and IOC Kakkanad ,2009
  • Life skill education consultant for PCSJ-UNICEF in Tsunami Rehabilitation project (2006-2008)
  • Devassy, S.M., Scaria, L., Metzger, J., Thampi, K et al. (2023). Development of immersive learning framework (ILF) in achieving the goals of higher education: measuring the impact using a pre–post design. Sci Rep 13, 17692 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-45035-0
  • Mavely, J.J., Devassy, R., Thampi, K. (2023). Green Social Work; A Call for Climate Action. In: Nautiyal, S., Gupta, A.K., Goswami, M., Imran Khan, Y.D. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Socio-ecological Resilience in the Face of Climate Change. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2206-2_34
  • Lija Mary, Thampi,K.(2023). 'Age-Friendly Public Health Systems in India: Envisaging Through the Lens of Sustainable Development Goals' in the conference proceedings of International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals- Opportunities, Challenges and Future (Volume- II) First Edition – 2023 Prof. R. Anita, Dr. Sumitra Pujari, Mr. Keshav Vivek Paramount Publishing House ISBN : 978-93-95944-53-3
  • Jolly John, Thampi,K.(2023).Advancing the SDG Agenda: Addressing Equity and Inclusion in Education for Dalit Youth in the conference proceedings of International Conference on Sustainable Development Goals- Opportunities, Challenges and Future (Volume- II) First Edition – 2023 Prof. R. Anita, Dr. Sumitra Pujari, Mr. Keshav Vivek Paramount Publishing House ISBN : 978-93-95944-53-3
  • Thampi, K. (2023). Lessons from Social Movements: Farmers and Food Sovereignty in India. In: Madew, M., Boryczko, M., Lusk, M. (eds) Decolonized Approaches to Human Rights and Social Work. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33030-8_14
  • Edited book: Anish, K.R., Thampi, K., Joseph, M.K., Ashlin,M.M.(2023).  Social Work Research Reflections on Health and Well- being, Adhyaan Books
  • Edited book: Joseph,M. K.,Anish, K.R., Thampi K., Mavely, John.(2023). Social Work Practices for a Crisis Resilient Community, Adhyaan Books
  • Edited book: Thampi, K., Joseph,M.K., Anish, K.R., John, Jolly, O.V.(2023). Empirical Reflections on Sustainable Social Work Practices, Adhyaan Books
  • Thampi, K., Devassy, S. M., Goel, K., Zadok, I., Diamandi, S., Kassabri, M. K., Kuncheria, J. M., & Prahlad, H. (2022). Supervision framework for international field education in India: Shared knowledge and experiences of supervisors from India, Israel, and Australia. International Social Work, 0(0).
  • https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221123165
  • Thampi, K. (2022). Strategizing the performance of Non- Government Organisations: Exploring Organisational Practices and Managerial Leadership Behaviour in Indian NGOs, Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, DOI: 10.1080/02185385.2022.2035250
  • Saju M D, Kiran Thampi, Jennifer Harrison, Lorane Scaria, Jed Metzger, Lynette Joubert. (2022). International Social Work: Cross-Cultural Supervision of Interns from the West in India, The British Journal of Social Work, bcac081, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac081
  • Thampi, K. (2022). Internationalization of social work education in India through student exchanges: challenges and prospects. Social Work Education, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2021.1919071
  • Thampi, K. (2021).'Ageing in Place'-National Policy initiative in India and a proposed networking model. Perspectives in Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, 36(1), pp 73-96, ISSN: 0974-5114
  • Mathew, T.R & Thampi, K. (2021). Organ Donation and Transplantation in India: The Role of a Medical Social Worker in a Hospital Setting. Rajagiri Journal of Social Development, 13(2), 133-146.
  • Devassy, Saju M., Scaria, Lorane., Cheguvera, Natania & Thampi, Kiran. (2021). "Association of Depression and Anxiety with Social Network Types: Results from a Community Cohort Study". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (11), 6120. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116120
  • Prahlad, Haritha & Thampi, Kiran. (2021). Occupational stress, coping and psychological well-being among IT professionals due to work from home after COVID-19 outbreak. In Radhakrishnan, Ragitha (Eds.), The New Normal-Psychological Perspectives, MGR Janaki College, Chennai, ISBN: 978-93-5457-297-5
  • Thampi, Kiran., & Metzger, Jed. (2021). Reflections from a cross-cultural course development and teaching experience delivered primarily by an Indian faculty in the United States, Social Work Education, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2021.1883581
  • Karen Bell, Belinda Cash, Heather Boetto & Kiran Thampi. (2020). International study abroad programmes: Exploring global south student perspectives, reciprocity and sustainability, SocialWorkEducation, Routledge, DOI: 10.1080/02615479.2020.1711881
  • Thampi, Kiran. (2017). Social work education crossing the borders: a field education programme for international internship, Social Work Education, Routledge, DOI:10.1080/02615479.2017.1291606
  • Thampi, Kiran., & Venus, Mary. (2016). The organizational practices of Non-Governmental Organisations in India-A prerequisite for enhancing the quality of Service delivery in the voluntary sector. In Zilova, Anna., Novotna, Aleena., & Venus, Mary (Eds.), Research reflections on the current Problems in society in the context of social work III (pp.186-199). Dublin, Ireland: Original Writing Ltd
  • Rajeev, S.P & Thampi, Kiran. (2016). ‘Twenty20 vision of CSR in Kizhakkambalam’, International Journal of Business Ethics in Developing Economies- Vol. 5. (ISSN: 2278-3172)-Impact Factor-3.83
  • Thampi, Kiran., Roy, Rinku. (2015)."Burden of Primary Caregivers of terminally ill Cancer patients in Palliative care"- published in proceedings of International symposium on Evidence in Global Mental Health
  • Book review –NGOs and participatory development in India in Rajagiri Journal of social development, Vol 7, Number 2, December 2015
  • Thampi, Kiran & M. D,Saju. (2013). “Social Work Education and Macro Practice-Trends and Challenges”, proceedings of National seminar on Contemporary best practices in professional social work, ISBN 938116413-4
  • Thampi, Kiran. (2013). Social Audit report on Puthukavu Watershed Management Project implemented from 2004 to 2009 for AVARD, Chalakkudy
  • Edited Book: Zilova, Anna., Novotna, Aleena., & Thampi, Kiran. (Eds.). (2015). Research reflections on the current problems in Society in the context of Social work II. Dublin, Ireland: Original Writing Ltd
  • K, Saiju & Thampi, Kiran. (2008). ‘Prevention of substance abuse among adults and role of continuing education centers in Kerala’ for State resource center, Kerala
  • Thampi, Kiran. (2010). ‘Development of Theory of mind and Mental state language in Children’, Review in Rajagiri Journal of social development
  • General Secretary-Indian Council of Social Welfare, Kerala Chapter (From 2022)
  • Member, IASSW,2020
  • Life Member, ICSW
  • Life Member, NAPSWI
  • Secretary, OYSTER (Organization of Yester Year Students of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences), Since 2013 till date
  • BOS member, Calicut University (2021-24)
  • Chair, BSW/MSW Exams, Mahatma Gandhi University (Various years from 2009 till date)
  • Member, Expert Committee, BSW in Mahatma Gandhi University, From 2009-2014
  • Awarded for the best research in Social Work Education by European Association of Schools of Social Work (EASSW) in 2023 considering the research and publications during the years 2021 & 2022.
  • Best Programme officer for National Service Scheme (NSS) in MG University, 2010
  • Developed and offered a 3-credit course (40 hours) for the students in the Department of Social Work, Nazareth College, Rochester, USA. The course was titled as "East and West: Integrated Perspectives in Health and Mental Health", June 2015.
  • Offered workshop on ‘Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques’ for students and Faculty members of Nepal School of Social Work and NGO representatives, Kathmandu, August 2016.
  • Conducted a symposium (International Internship in India and Rajagiri) at Shenzhen University, China, May 2017
  • Visited CUHK, UHK- Hong Kong in 2017 and USM-Malaysia in 2018 for official tie ups
  • Participated and invited speaker in International Summer University in Social Work (ISUSW 2018) organised by Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, July 2018
  • Visited and participated in training sessions conducted by University of York, UK as a part of UKIERI Project, April 2018 & July 2019
  • Presented a paper titled Social protection policies and social work in India during COVID-19: Case vignette of a HEI in Social Work at the 23rd ICSD International Conference on Social Development in Times of Crisis – Challenges and responses University of Gävle, Sweden, August 2023
  • Editorial Review Board Member of the International Journal of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, SAGE, 2022
  • Reviewer for Social Work Education-International Journal (Routledge) since 2020
  • Reviewer for ISW & F1000 since 2021
  • Reviewer for Community Mental Health & Journal of Gerontological Social Work from 2023