THRIvE Research Centre

We are setting up a sister concern that engages in deep and meaningful research studies in education. The THRIvE (Transformative Holistic Research for Integral and Inclusive Education) Research Centre is committed to transforming education systems through rigorous research (with a focus on exploratory, systems, and implementation research). By integrating deep inquiry, strategic collaboration, holistic approaches and actionable insights, THRIvE seeks to drive meaningful educational transformation at individual-, systemic-, and policy-levels.

The THRIvE Centre is being established by Dr Jwalin Patel, Dr Seema Nath, and Dr Rohini Sen, who have a robust track record of impactful research, including numerous academic papers, books, and successful management of multiple research grants. The Centre is well-equipped with a team of experienced researchers and global collaborators from institutions such as the University of Cambridge and University College London.

Some of the studies focus on interventions devised by TIDE Foundation, while others focus on exploring phenomena and/or other’s interventions.

THRIVE envisions transformative, inclusive, and equitable education systems that foster enriched and empowered learning environments, individuals, communities and institutions. The mission is to address systemic challenges in education through high-quality, embedded, non-partisan research that informs and drives actionable change. By emphasizing systems and implementation research, capacity building, and knowledge dissemination, THRIVE supports systemic transition and fosters sustainability in education.

It embodies the following principles:

Knowledge Generation and Dissemination

Producing high-quality, evidence-based research to guide systemic improvements.

Deep Exploratory and Systems Research

Exploring lived experiences of various stakeholders and unpacking system-based levers that underpin behaviours

Process and Implementation Process Research

Investigating how and why policies and interventions succeed/fail, providing insights into system-wide transitions.

Actionable Research

Ensuring that insights lead to tangible change in educational structures and policies.

Sustainable Collaborations

Building long-term partnerships to foster innovation and institutional transformation.

Capacity Building

Equipping educators, administrators, and policymakers with the skills (alongwith research skills) and knowledge to drive sustainable change.

Our Projects

Happiness Curriculum and social emotional development; the role of curricula, pedagogy, reflection and teacher student relations

Exploring teacher and children's experiences of the happiness curriculum and the underlying teaching learning processes.

Pragmatic Research on Agency-Based Holistic Approach to Education through Innovation and Vision (PRABHAV - प्रभाव)

Exploring systemic influences of teacher agency and agency's role in supporting teachers as agents of change in India's educational landscape.

Empowering Teachers with Disabilities (TWD)

Exploring experiences of teachers with disabilities working in schools across India aims to highlight their professional journeys, challenges, and identity intersections.

Education for social justice; experiences of a social changemakers program

An autoethnographic study exploring students' experiences of engaging in immersive, deep and meaningful social changemaking projects.

Model City Council; engaging in contextualized discussions of sustainability

A qualitative study exploring experiences and impact of engaging in collaborative discussions of building sustainable cities.

Our team

Jwalin Patel (PhD)

Co-director and principal investigator
PhD in Education, University of Cambridge

Seema Nath (PhD)

Co-director and principal investigator
PhD in Education, University of Cambridge
Associate Director, Ummeed Child Development Center

Mansi Nanda (PhD)

Principal Investigator
PhD in Education, University of Cambridge

Rohini Sen

Co-director
PhD candidate, University of Warwick
Associate Professor, Jindal Global Law School

Murari Jha (PhD)

Research Associate
PhD, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Fulbright Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fellow
Associate Professor, SCERT Delhi

Thilanka Wijesinghe(PhD)

Research Associate
PhD, University of Cambridge
Speech and language therapist at FocusAbility
Attached to University of Kelaniya

Muskan Khanna

Research Associate
MPhil in Education, University of Cambridge

Magdhi Diksha

Research Associate
MA Gender Studies, BR Ambedkar University, Delhi
Research Associate, Azim Premji University

Sangeeta Bhatt(PhD)

Research Associate
PhD, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara

Past members

Paran Amitava

Research Assistant
MA in Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
National Child Rights Research Fellow 2024, Child Rights and You