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Educational Collaboration between India and the Philippines to enhance disaster resilience : MoU between Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Ateneo De Manila University

Posted on: May 04, 2021 | | Back | Print

Embassy of India

Manila

Educational Collaboration launched between India and the Philippines to enhance disaster resilience

1. Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, a top-ranking Indian social sciences institution and Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), one of the Philippines’ leading universities, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote exchanges in the field of Disaster Studies today.

2. Under the MoU, TISS and ADMU will promote exchange of students, faculty members and researchers; placement of students within the university or with industry partners for internship; exchange of information and academic resources of mutual interest; and activities such as collaborative research, joint symposia and guest lectures.

3. The MoU was signed by Prof. Shalini Bharat, Vice-Chancellor and Director of TISS and Fr. Roberto C. Yap, President, ADMU in presence of the Ambassador of India to the Philippines, Mr. Shambhu S. Kumaran.

4. The Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the School of Social Sciences and the School of Science and Engineering of the Ateneo de Manila University will be the principal partners under the MoU.

5. With over 7 decades of experience in the field of disaster response, TISS was among the first institutions in Asia to offer a full-fledged Masters in Disaster Studies in
2007. The programme traverses both social sciences and technologies for disaster risk reduction. The faculty of the School consists of experts on Economics, Law, Environmental Sciences, Social Work, Community organization, Gender Studies, GIS and remote sensing and Hydrology.

6. ADMU, committed to a high degree of educational excellence and professional competence has also played a significant part in the Philippines’ development through its social development programs and has extended assistance countrywide through its Disaster Response and Management (DReAM) team. The University, through its educational programmes like ‘Master in Disaster Risk and Resilience’, and projects such as ‘Coastal Cities at Risk: Investing in Climate and Disaster Resilience’ has been advancing interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches to addressing risk and building resilience.

7. The increasing intensity and frequency of natural disasters across the globe, and the developmental, financial and humanitarian challenges that it presents, calls for a greater role for international cooperation in disaster prevention, management, and mitigation. Disaster Studies is emerging globally as a full-fledged academic discipline that demands specialization, academic education, training and sharing of best practices.

8. The MoU is a part of the Indian Embassy’s effort to encourage wide-ranging, development oriented and forward-looking educational collaboration between Indian and Philippine entities, as part of a vibrant bilateral partnership that addresses future needs of both countries. In his address during the virtual signing ceremony, Ambassador Kumaran said, “This engagement between two leading academic institutions of India and the Philippines reflects both our shared resolve to work and also a sense of confidence in each others abilities as learning and growing institutions that can contribute meaningfully in the response to emerging challenges. This is very timely, very opportune and very welcome."

9. The educational partnership in the field of Disaster Studies is also a reflection of the importance attached by India to adopting a multi-disciplinary approach to building disaster resilience. With leading global initiatives, especially the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), India seeks to script a cooperative approach to building resilience in geographies susceptible to natural disasters. India has formally invited the Philippines to join CDRI.

4 May 2021