Fr. George Mutholil Kurian (KER), presently the Head of Training & Human Rights Unit in ISI Bangalore, has been appointed as the New Director of Indian Social Institute, Bangalore. He will take over from Fr. Mathew Aerthayil (KER), on 5th January 2010. We sincerely thank Mathew for all his services and warmly welcome and wish George "All the Best" in his new mission in ISI, Bangalore.

A little Infomation about George:

• George has done Masters in Andragogy (with a specialization in Management of Adult Education) and in Sociology; and Ph.D. from the University of Pune.

• He began his career as a Family counsellor in Loyola Family Counselling centre. Later for 22 years taught Sociology in Loyola College of Social Sciences, Trivandrum, and Kerala. He was also the Principal of the College between 2004-08.

• He is a research guide in Sociology, at the University of Kerala.

• Besides teaching, his interests include, Family Counselling, Adult Education, Training of Youth, Non-Governmental and Civil Society Organisations and Pastoral work.

• He was active in the Social action boards of the Province and the diocese of Trivandrum during the last two decades

• His major publications include a book of reflections in the Native language and co-authored books on ‘Development-Induced Displacement’, ‘Extension Education’ and 3 different chapters in books on Paulo Freire, Globalisation and Education, all published from Delhi. He has also published rather regularly on Sociological themes within Kerala

• He has served as a Family Counsellor during his tenure in Loyola and has been nominated member of the Governing council of SERFAC, a national body for Research and Training in Family. Has attended about four international conferences related to Family Counselling, Trauma and so on.

• He was a Visiting Scholar at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, U S A. in 2008-09. During the two semesters in Holy Cross, he taught two courses in the Department of Sociology and researched in the area of Family Dynamics.

• During his tenure as Principal, he was active in the NIPM, Trivandrum chapter.

• From July 2009, he heads the Human Rights and Training Departments of Indian Social Institute, Bangalore, India.