The 2026 DYUTI International Conference, themed “Shared Pathways: Social Work and Public Health,” provides a scholarly platform to examine the synergies between these disciplines in advancing public health goals and addressing social determinants of health. Social work’s commitment to human rights, social justice, and community empowerment aligns seamlessly with public health’s focus on disease prevention, health promotion, and policy advocacy. Together, these fields are uniquely positioned to mitigate health disparities, enhance service delivery, and promote sustainable development.
About DYUTI
DYUTI — Developmental Yearnings for a United and Transformed India
Rajagiri with its vision of ‘becoming a centre of excellence in learning
for enriching and fulfilling LIFE’ has been regularly providing an annual
forum for deliberations on vital issues of development from a Rights
perspective. This annual series of deliberation (started in 1998) is
named DYUTI meaning ‘Spark of Life’. DYUTI 2026 is the 25th in its
series.
Background
The convergence of social work and public health
represents a critical frontier in addressing the
multifaceted challenges of global well-being. The 2023
WHO report highlights staggering inequities, with 1 in 8
individuals globally affected by mental health conditions
and 3.5 billion people lacking access to safely managed
sanitation services. Additionally, over 45% of the world’s
population remains without access to essential health
services, aggravating disparities driven by preventable
diseases, systemic inequalities, and fragile healthcare
infrastructures. These realities underscore the urgent need
for interdisciplinary collaboration to create sustainable
solutions that enhance health equity and social justice.
This conference will engage academics, practitioners, and
policymakers in critical dialogue to explore innovative,
evidence-based strategies for addressing global health
challenges. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration
and examining best practices, the event seeks to chart
actionable pathways toward building resilient, equitable,
and inclusive communities. Through its emphasis on
research, policy, and practice, the conference aims to
contribute meaningfully to advancing global health and
well-being.
Foster cross-sector collaboration among social work professionals, public health experts, and
key stakeholders to address complex social and health challenges, advance culturally
responsive and evidence-informed policies, and promote the development of consortiums for
research and evaluation focused on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Rajagiri College of Social Sciences (Autonomous) was established as a result of the indefatigable industry and foresight of the CMI Congregation. Rajagiri College of Social Sciences has been placed 27th in the country in the 'Colleges' category by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2022, MHRD, Govt of India. Rajagiri College of Social Sciences was selected and granted with "College with Potential for Excellence" (CPE) status by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India in 2016. The institution was reaccredited in the fourth cycle with an A++ grade and a CGPA of 3.83 by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Rajagiri School of Social Work, started in the year 1955 was one of the pioneering institutions in south India, establishing programmes and setting standards in the field of social work education. According to the India Today - MDRA and OUTLOOK - ICARE Survey of Best Social Work Colleges 2023 ranking, the Social Work Programme of Rajagiri College of Social Sciences rated as the second-best in Pan India. The presence of live labs (extension departments) in the campus adds quality to education through experience.
'Internationalisation' has been a catchword for Rajagiri since its inception and we have completed 25 years of official International collaborations. Currently, Rajagiri has official agreements with 60+ International Universities across 30 countries. Establishing vibrant academic tie-ups with leading universities all over the world has not only helped the students to get international exposure, but also facilitated in sharing of resources for faculty training, curriculum development, research, and consultancy. Our students from PG and UG programmes regularly do short-term study programmes in our Partner Universities with a duration ranging from 1 month to 6 months. We host International students in our regular programmes as full-time students which is also supported by the Study in India (SII) Programme from the Govt of India. The various programmes offered by Rajagiri also have twinning, dual degree arrangements with world-class International Universities across the globe.
Dr. Rajeev S P, Assistant Professor,
Department of Social Work
Ph: +91 9847891414
rajeev@rajagiri.edu
