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IHRR-IIT Mandi Workshop on ‘Integrating Disaster Preparedness into the Transportation Engineering curriculum for the Indian Himalayas’.

2 April 2025
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[04/25] Dr Ashutosh Kumar (IHRR Visiting Fellow and Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, IIT, Mandi) and Dr Ellen Robson (IHRR PDRA) co-organised a workshop on 'Integrating Disaster Preparedness into the Transportation Engineering curriculum for the Indian Himalayas’ as part of their £30,000 British Council Industry Academia Collaborative Grant.

The two-day workshop took place at IIT Mandi from 1-2 April 2025. Participants included academics from the Department of Engineering and IHRR at Durham University, the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at IIT Mandi, the Civil Department at IIT Bombay, and the Institute of Engineering at Pulchowk Campus, Tribhuvan University, industry partners including the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Maccaferri, AFRY India Pvt. Ltd, the National Society for Earthquake Technology-Nepal (NSET), and Winter Associates, and policymakers (including from the State Disaster Management Authority).

Workshop aims:

  • To facilitate discussions and collaborative efforts among policymakers, industry professionals, and academics to develop a comprehensive curriculum for a postgraduate module on disaster-resilient transportation infrastructure in hilly regions (module to be taught at IIT Mandi and hosted onlineby DRI connect).
  • To bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry needs, ensuring that future professionals are equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to design and manage transportation infrastructure in disaster-prone areas effectively.

Workshop objectives:

  • Curriculum Development: To outline the key topics and interdisciplinary components that should be included in the M.Tech module, ensuring alignment with industry requirements and best practices.
  • Industry-Academia Collaboration: To foster partnerships between academia and industry to create a curriculum that integrates practical knowledge, case studies, and real-world applications.
  • Policy and Practical Insights: To bring together policymakers, practitioners, and academics to share insights on disaster preparedness strategies and transportation resilience in hilly regions.
  • Pedagogical Approaches: To explore and incorporate modern teaching methodologies, including digital tools, field-based learning, and simulations, into the module design.
  • Knowledge Exchange: To facilitate an exchange of experiences and best practices among experts from different domains, enhancing the module’s effectiveness and impact.
  • Implementation Strategy: To discuss the roadmap for integrating the module into IIT Mandi’s curriculum and its availability as an online

Photo credit: IIT Mandi

Workshop participants at IIT Mandi (photo consent given).