Knowledge Sharing in Sustainable Urban Living between
Asian Sub-Continent and Africa through CESSAF
(Proposal for South-South Collaboration)
Mukesh Khare Patron, Planet Earth Institute
Member, Global Scientific Committee, PEIProfessor of Environmental Engineering
IIT Delhi INDIA
Benefit of Collaborations
The International Collaborations
1. International collaborations are interdisciplinary in nature.
Such efforts examine processes of change in relation to human well-
being and the environment.
2. Collaborations are interdisciplinary- between individuals,
institutions, countries or combinations.
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A Successful Collaboration
1. Appropriate partners – ‘Fit for Purpose’ of sharing of academic research
2. Win-Win for participants – ‘Partnership’
3. Mutual respect and understanding
4. Clarity of agreement on key goal(s)/outputs at different stages
5. Clarity of roles – ‘Inter-dependencies’
6. Transparent decision making processes
Prosser and Meehan, 2001
Factors Driving Collaboration
1. Desire to increase profile of research – ‘Peer Recognition’.
2. Desire to advance knowledge – ‘Pooling’.
3. Increased specialisation – ‘Interdisciplinary fields’.
4. Growth of cross- sectoral work – increased emphasis on knowledge transfer,
knowledge sharing and dissemination.
5. Sharing of resources – ‘Escalating costs of Manpower, Equipment,
Specialised facilities etc.
6. Political factors – changes in funding patterns and/or levels.
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Measurements of Successful Collaboration
Numbers of
1. Researchers involved/disciplines involved
2. Stakeholders/end users involved
3. Students exchanges
4. Researcher exchanges per total number of researchers
5. Shared facilities and resources – usage profiles
6. Joint proposals to other funders prepared/successful
7. Leverage into strategic area of collaboration by all parties
Major South -South Collaborations: Indian Lessons
A. IIT Delhi – University of Technology, Lae , PapuaNew Guinea (Funding: JICA and UNITECH)
1. Establishment of Environmental Engineering Laboratory,
Environmental Management Group (EMG) and development of
Undergraduate Level Courses in Environmental Engineering.
2. Conductance of /quality improvement programmes, short courses for
academicians, practicing engineers, government officials, industries.
3. Local Problem Oriented design of Mini and Major Projects
(Involvement of Government and Private Stakeholders).
4. Participation of Experts from the EMG of the University for
Evolution/ Modifications of Policies of the Government on
Environmental Pollution Control.
5. Teaching and Research
B. IIT Delhi – University of West Indies, Trinidad &
Tobago (Funding: UWI and Atlantic LNG, USA)
1. Expansion of Environmental Engineering Laboratory
2. Development of Postgraduate Level Courses in Environmental
Engineering and local industrial involvement in academics and research.
3. Conductance of training courses, short courses, seminar and
workshop in Air Pollution Dispersion.
4. Integrating experts in area of Environmental Engineering and
Sciences from different faculty of the university.
5. Teaching and Research
6. Active involvement of the Environmental Faculty in designing and
formulating the Government policies in Environmental Conservation laws
of the country.
7. Assisting the University Administration in preparation of ‘White Paper’
on policies related to International Research Collaborations, Faculty
Recruitment etc.
8. Working with Atlantic LNG, USA in area of Ecological Assessment of
the Sensitive Regions of the country.
9. Collaborations with International NGOs , e.g. Blacksmiths, USA, in the
area of Toxic Pollution Assessment (Lead Battery Disposal)
C. IIT Delhi – University of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
(FICCI, India; Ministry of Education, Ethiopia)
1. Training of experts in area of Air Quality Instrumentation.
2. Assisting the Faculty in preparation of modules on Air Pollution,
Indoor Air Pollution and Urban Sustainability.
3. Design of Postgraduate Syllabus on Urban Air Pollution and
Sustainable Urban Living.
4. Formation of core expert group in India for conducting in house
training programmes for Ethiopian practicing Engineers and Scientists
at Addis Ababa.
D. IIT Delhi – Durban University of Technology, South
Africa (NRF, South Africa)
1. Formation of expert group in areas of Indoor Air Quality and Urban
Living comprising of Indian and South African Faculty.
2. Collaborative research proposals in areas of mutual research interest.
3. Exploring the possibilities of external funding from various
international agencies for short visits of experts from both countries to
identify the core areas of collaborations.
4. Delivery of seminars/lectures; exchange of students and faculty from
both institutes (on card).
Outcome
1.Facilitation of development of analytical abilities through
knowledge sharing and knowledge mapping
2.Shift focus from knowledge transfer to knowledge sharing
3.Capacity building of trained professionals
4.Facilitate the dissemination of research
Establishing PEI- Science, Technology & Resource Centre (PEI - STRC), New Delhi
Need for Establishing Links
1. Creating opportunities for achieving sustainable development links
through education .
2. Understand the potential for Sustainable Urban Living through
efficient resource management. More for developing countries where
urbanization has enabled vast segments of population to be lifted above
poverty line.
3. Enable movement of academic community to identify opportunities
and threats in the path of Sustainable Urban Living alternatives.
Developing the Paradigm to Move Beyond
Teaching Knowledge Transfer
Teaching Knowledge Sharing
Research Clustered
The Importance of Knowledge Today
1. The knowledge dividend.
2. Promoting knowledge for social development.
3. Integrated higher education, research, innovation.
High Level Knowledge
1. Intellectual Capital - via advanced academic credentials.
2. A robust R & D Sector.
3. Strong CIT capacity.
Methodology
Understanding the data
Establishing the information
Gaining Knowledge
Achieving the Wisdom
Role of CESSAF
1.Potential for development as a specialized unit on knowledge
management
2.Platform for interaction of experts from various fields
3.Nodal centre for liaison between participating countries to facilitate
knowledge based linkages to mitigate gaps in knowledge in the build up
sustainable environments.
4.Facilitation of a Knowledge Mapping Unit which may also provide
efficient and consensus pathways to share the data and information
between Asian Subcontinent and Africa, thus strengthening their
scientific and technical co operations.
Role of PEI- Science, Technology & Resource Centre
(STRC), New Delhi
1.Research and Development in environmental sustainability of urban
growth.
2.Joint capacity building through teachers training programmes and
student -faculty exchanges through CESSAF.
3.Nodal centre for academic programme co-ordination between
CESSAF and India.
4.Nodal centre for logistics and funding of operational activities.
5.Vision for active involvement in the future for technology and
scientific interventions for smarter and sustainable Indian cities.
6.Potential as a resource centre for sustainable initiatives.
Role of IIT Delhi
1.Working together with PEI and CESSAF through PEI-STRC, New
Delhi.
2.Provision of educational aids support such as labs and other support
infrastructure for CESSAF and other partner institutions in Africa.
3.Exposure to allied disciplines for more holistic approach towards
Sustainable Urban Living.
4.Identification of clustered research questions involving environment,
society, gender , resource conservations, sustainability, governance and
livelihood.
Developing the Mechanism
Interactions at a higher level
1.PEI as nodal coordinating agency
2. Setting up of PEI-Science, Technology & Resource Centre
(PEI-STRC) for knowledge transfer and facilitate funding
3. Involvement of Ministries of Science and Technology, Ministry of
Urban Development and Ministry of Human Resource Development
4. Setting up of a high level co-ordination and monitoring committees
Developing the Mechanism
Interactions at grassroots level
1. Identification of projects for study
2. Developing outreach programmes
3. Interactions with local stakeholders and ULB’s to understand the
type of area or characteristic under consideration.
4. Involvement of allied institutions, professionals, NGO’s to
understand behaviour of settlements processes.
5. Quantification and evaluation of sustainability as a participatory
process .
Towards Building Research and Training Capacity
Improved teaching
Asking relevant questions
Commitment to research
Evolution of Sustainable systems
Agents of Change: Using evidence to question
Capacity to be part of international research community
Skills for carrying out researchResearch and
Training Capacity Capacity to generate own knowledge
ResearchUniversity as a hub
Capacity to utilise external research/knowledge
Capacity for evaluation
Capacity for analysis
Culture
Budget for research
Research policy & strategy
Schematic -Implementation Structure
PEI-STRC India Current Status
1. In formation stage.
2. Finding/Mobilizing Partners
3. The PEI-STRC will propose a Practice Based Joint Research,
Capacity Building, Exchanges in Core Areas of Sustainable
Urban Living in Partners Countries of Asia and Africa.
4. Creating/Finding Tools for Self Sustenance of PEI-STRC
(India).
Schematic Implementation Structure
Joint Advisory Board (JAB)
CEO – PEI & Trustees; Chairman, GSC; CESSAF- Director;
Major Funding Partners
Central Steering Committee (CSC)
Chairman, GSC; CEO, PEI (India); Director, CESSAF; UNESCO
Steering Committee (India)
CEO, PEI (India); Director, PEI-STRC (India); Members, Expert Advisory Board
PEI-STRC (India)
Strategic Programme Cell Admin Cell Finance Cell CIT Cell
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