Already since July 1995, the University of Madras, Department of Christian Studies - under the guidance of Prof. Felix Wilfred - offers the so-called "MWI Endowment Lectures". Through this practice the Department, situated in the ambient of a secular university, intends to establish channels of communication with other scholars and students in other departments, and the university as a whole. Every year the Department of Christian Studies invites an eminent scholar to deliver an endowment lecture in the field of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. The annnual endowment lectures, which are sponsored by the Institute of Missiology, are open to public with whom the Department hopes to build up relationships.