The International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS) provides an important link between the Jain community and the academic world by providing students and scholars the opportunity to study Jainism during an intensive summer program in North India. The Jain community has, and continues to have, a large impact on Indian religious and cultural life, despite its small numbers. Out of approximately 1000 colleges and universities that offer courses at graduate and post- graduate levels in the academic study of South Asia, only 17 academics (in the estimate of Jain scholar Professor John Cort) are engaged in Jain studies. In light of this gap in the academic study of Jainism, the ISSJS aims to actively support scholarly inquiry by fostering an interest in Jainism in universities around the world.

The ISSJS is a program run by two separate but collaborating organizations; the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS) India and ISJS North America. ISJS North America is a sub committee of the Mahavir Vision Inc., a non-profit, (tax exempt,) 501 C (3) organization. ISJS North America works in collaboration with the Committee on the Academic Studies of Jainism in North America (ASJNA), the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), the World Council of Jain Academies, U.K (WCJA), the Jain Academic Foundation of North America (JAFNA) and the Pluralism Project at Harvard University. Similarly ISJS in India is a tax exempt (under section 80G) trust with a number of leading institutions of Jain research and higher learning supporting ISJS India. For details please see Program details 2008.

This year the ISSJS is offering two programs, namely:

a.	Two months program for undergraduates, graduates, Ph.D scholars and teaching faculty. Invariably all scholars enrolled for this program gets some sort of financial assistance from ISSJS
b.	One month program for bright undergraduate scholars who wish to learn about Jainism and take it up as a part of their graduate studies. University of Ottawa is offering this program through ISSJS under their course number SRS4107 and coordinated by Prof Anne Vallely of Ottawa university. Scholars enrolled for this program can earn three credit hours from the University of Ottawa Canada.

ISSJS invests heavily (approx US$ 8000 per scholar under program ‘a’ and US$ 4000 under program ‘b’ to ensure comprehensive coverage of Jain history, culture, philosophy and way of life with field visits and social interactions.