The research wing of Malabar Educational Society for Human Resource Development and Research, founded by Dr.K.S.Mathew, formerly professor and founderHead of the Department of History, Pondicherry University, is a recognized research centre under Kannur University since June 2004. The Vice-Chancellor of the University formaIIy inaugurated this Institute on 14 January 2002. The main objective of the institute is to conduct and guide source-based researches at the Master's, Pre-doctorate and Doctorate levels in different branches of Social Sciences and Humanities. Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches and methodology constitute a unique feature of the programmes undertaken by the IRISH. History, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Anthropology, Malayalam, English and Hindi are the disciplines currently taken up for research guidance. The Institute offers intensive courses in tool languages like Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit and Arabic. A computer based state of the art language laboratory has been installed for teaching various languages. An intensive course in Portuguese Language for two months was organized in April-May 2004 for research scholars with the assistance of Fundacao Oriente. Sixteen doctoral and post-doctoral scholars benefited out of it. In view of the success of the course, the Fundacao Oriente has sanctioned one more intensive course for 2005.

IRISH has already obtained a well-furnished office, rooms for the Research guides and library for the research scholars and other amenities at Nirmalagiri College. The duly constituted Commission sent by the Kannur University was satisfied with the infrastructure of the Institute. Therefore the members of the commission recommended to the University authorities for recognizing it as a research centre of the Kannur University in Social Sciences and Humanities. Subsequently the authorities issued orders to this effect (vide. Resolution of the syndicate No. 2004.072 dated 12.05.2004).

The apex body for the administration of IRISH is the executive council. The council meets at least once a year to evaluate the work of the Institute and to chalk out future plans. Eminent scholars from various universities are in the council. The executive committee nominates the members. The term of the membership is for a period of three years

The Director who is the chief executive head of the Institute will organize day to day activities of the Institute with the assistance of executive committee The founder of the Institute, Professor Dr.K.S.Mathew, currently the research guide recognized by the Kannur University, is the director of the Institute.

The Founder of IRISH, Professor Dr.K.S .Mathew has donated approximately 4000 volumes of rare books, journals, microfilm reader, audiovisual aids etc to the Institute, which are placed at the disposal of the research scholars in the IRISH Library at Nirmalagiri. He has also kept another collection of approximately 3000 volumes of rare books in his residence at 50/81 A, Holloway Road, Thalassery open to the Research scholars.

The Institute is now busy setting up a high profile research library with the books and documents donated by the well-wishers of the Institute whose name will be inscribed in the Library. Internet facilities are available at Nirmalagiri for research scholars.