Thinking and doing are both strong bases for knowing. At Azim Premji University, research and practice share a symbiotic relationship and are equally emphasized because the absence of field and teaching connections can make research isolated and irrelevant. Also, it is strongly believed that research at the University should  meaningfully impact the quality of life of communities. Hence research done at the Azim Premji University is "locally relevant but globally positioned".

Azim Premji University is in the process of building a long term research infrastructure with the capacity to plan, coordinate and execute research that produces qualitative and quantitative data on the education and development sector in the country. This is facilitated through the Research Centre at Azim Premji University.

The overarching mandate of the Research Centre is to keep Research thought at the forefront of learning and practice activities. The goals of the Centre are:

• Conduct research in the areas of education and development, to actively seek answers to deepen our understanding of people and societies. Research is a medium to widen awareness of issues beyond the here and now.
• Present findings and promote knowledge-based processes for decision-making among all stakeholders. Research should inform positions on social change and action.
• Provide research skills and build capacity for structured, systematic ways of thinking within Azim Premji University and Azim Premji Foundation and among communities and partner organizations we work with.
• Serve as a repository of existing knowledge sources, and be recognized as an affordable and easily accessible source for knowledge products.

For more about the activities of the Research Centre please contact Devaki Lakshminarayan.