Ghent University & Arihanta Institute Sign Memorandum of Understanding

New agreement strengthens Jain Studies collaborations between the institutions.

Two leading global research institutions, Ghent University and Arihanta Institute, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen their ongoing work together in the academic field of Jain Studies.

The two institutions have worked closely together since 2023, when Professor Tine Vekemans, Ācārya Mahāprajña Chair for Jain Studies at Ghent University, invited Arihanta Institute’s Professor Christopher Jain Miller to provide a lecture in the “Religious Traditions of India” speaker series in the Department of Languages and Cultures. 

During Professor Miller’s visit to Ghent University, initial plans were also made to host what is now a multi-institutional, collaborative online speaker series that brings some of the newest research in Jain Studies to public and academic audiences alike.

Ghent University Professors Eva De Clercq and Tine Vekemans also subsequently visited Professor Miller in Zürich. There in Switzerland, the three scholars made a special trip to visit the “Being Jain” (German: “Jain Sein”) exhibition at Museum Rietberg where Professor Miller had served on the exhibition’s board of advisors under the direction of Deputy Director Dr. Johannes Beltz. 

The new MOU between Arihanta Institute and Ghent University will enable the two institutions to continue to develop mutually enhancing collaborations, such as the exchange of academic staff and PhD students for research and the exchange of pedagogical and research materials.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about Ghent University and Arihanta Institute’s educational and research initiatives. 

About Ghent University’s Jaina Studies: The Department of languages and cultures at Ghent University has seen several decades of Jaina studies. At present members of the Jaina Studies group, further embedded in the UGent research group GCSAS, work on projects that span the entire spectrum of Jainism, from history to philosophy and beyond. Courses on Jainism are also taught at Ghent University.

Learn more about Ghent University’s Jaina Studies here.

About Arihanta Institute: As an academic institution, Arihanta Institute is dedicated to advancing education, scholarship, critical research, and public dissemination of real-world application of the Jain principles of non-violence (ahiṃsā) and compassion (karuṇā). The Institute’s mission is to empower individuals with knowledge to embrace and apply these principles as a force for positive change, addressing the most pressing issues of our time with courage and compassion. The Institute, as a leader in Engaged Jain Studies, aims to bridge theory and practice, creating inclusive, accessible online education that empowers individuals and communities to apply ancient wisdom to modern challenges, fostering a more peaceful and compassionate future for all.

Learn more about Jain Studies at Arihanta Institute here.