The Department of Communication at University of Hyderabad will be part of a five-nation consortium of institutions that has been awarded a prestigious research grant by the European Research Council (ERC) for a five-year project on “Reimagining Activism, Communication and Trajectories of Participation in the Global South (REACT),” starting January 2026.
Prof. Vinod Pavarala with Prof. Thomas Tufte
Led by the well-known communication for social change scholar, Prof. Thomas Tufte of Loughborough University, UK, Senior Professor and UNESCO Chair on Community Media at University of Hyderabad, Prof. Vinod Pavarala will join scholars from four other countries — Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa – on this project funded by the ERC Advanced Grant that gives internationally renowned researchers the freedom to pursue bold, curiosity-driven ideas that could lead to major scientific and societal breakthroughs. Other participating institutions, besides the team at Loughborough University London, include: Universidade Federal Do Rio De Janeiro (Brazil), Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia), Universidad de Colima (Mexico), and University of Kwazulu-Natal (South Africa).
The REACT will examine how 18-30-year-olds in 20 countries—including in-depth case studies in the five participating countries—respond to rising inequality, unemployment, and socio-economic exclusion. Employing over 20 researchers across the Global South, the project will combine perspectives from communication for social change, cultural studies, urban research, and critical development theory, to develop a new interdisciplinary framework—COMPAS (Communication, Participation and Social Change). REACT aims to amplify youth voices, stimulate cultural exchange, and uncover pathways toward more inclusive societies not only through the standard social science research methods, but also through creative workshops, urban manifestos, and scenario building.
Reacting to the announcement of the award, the lead researcher, Prof. Tufte of Loughborough University said, “I find the project very important at this time and age, investigating how young people across the global south negotiate experiences of uncertainty and exclusion, and act upon them. I believe our project has the scope and potential to generate unique insights into and testimonials about the human and democratic condition of young people.” On the partnership with University of Hyderabad, he adds, “The collaboration with University of Hyderabad builds on the many years of collaboration I have had with Professor Vinod Pavarala, but also with other colleagues and doctoral researchers. This solid pathway of collaboration establishes a promising scenario for the future, and I look forward very much to continuing to work with University of Hyderabad.”
Expressing happiness about his participation in the project, Prof. Pavarala said that this was a culmination of many years of joint academic and research work with colleagues at Loughborough University, including Profs. Tufte, Jo Tacchi, and John Downey. He was a Duo India Visiting Professor at Loughborough during 2022 and serves as a member of the International Advisory Board for Loughborough University (London)’s Master’s programs in international development, sustainable development, and global communication and social change.
Reacting to the awarding of the grant, Prof. B.J. Rao, Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, said, “I congratulate Prof. Pavarala for being part of this prestigious project which will bring laurels to the University. I wish him all the best in this international collaboration.”