The scholars have been offered scholarships to study Indian traditional medicine in India. The program will run for six weeks and students will be able to interact with practitioners and observe the day to day application of these forms of medicine. This will be a learning process for everyone involved.
Scholarships have been offered to various multidisciplinary scholars in their quest to learn about the traditional health system of India. The scholarships, which have been offered by the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, will see a team of senior scholars, members of the community and practitioners offered a chance to learn these skills in six weeks in an indigenous health and entrepreneurship scholarship program.
The aim of learning Indian traditional medicine
The program will focus on the Ayurveda discipline of study. The Ayurveda system has been in existence for the last 5000 years. It is a medical approach that is centered around the health, prevention of diseases and treatment through lifestyle methods such as dietary, massage and herbal medicines.
The location of the school will be at the foothills of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, Southern India. The program will also expand on research into Māori, indigenous well being and focus on insights on how to support the resurgence of Rongoā Māori in New Zealand. These two forms of traditional medicines have existed for centuries.
Associate Professor Mera Penehira who leads the Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi international indigenous doctoral program said that around 10 students had been awarded this scholarship. The beneficiaries include graduates, senior students, faculty members, Rongoā Māori practitioners and researchers in traditional forms of medicine. She has also indicated that the selected group come from academics and practitioners who are focused on ensuring the advancement of Maori health and wellbeing.
She continued by saying,
As an indigenous institution, we’re interested in building our research portfolio. This programme has the potential to establish a collaborative research base that we would be happy to support for future indigenous knowledge and business-oriented outcomes.
The program highlights efforts to study traditional knowledge and approach to healthcare. It also offers a path for new students who may want to strengthen their cultural understanding of the Indian traditional medicines and how they approached issues. This program will also spur international relations as it is being undertaken by multiple countries including students from India and New Zealand.
