RCE Thiruvananthapuram
Overview
Thiruvananthapuram, commonly known by its former name Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the largest city in Kerala. The encompassing urban agglomeration population is around 1.68 million. Located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland, Thiruvananthapuram is a major Information Technology hub in Kerala. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", the city is characterised by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills.
Thiruvananthapuram is the academic and research hub of Kerala state in India, and is home to the University of Kerala, Kerala Technological University, the regional headquarters of Indira Gandhi National Open University, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Indian Space Research Organisation's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, a campus of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Centre for Development Studies (CDS), and ER&DC.
Being India's largest city in the deep south, it is strategically prominent and hosts the Southern Air Command headquarters of the Indian Air Force, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station and the Vizhinjam International Seaport. Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist centre, known for the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, the backwaters of Poovar and Anchuthengu and its Western Ghats tracts of Ponmudi and the Agastyamala. Kerala state is part of the southern Western Ghats, one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world.
In terms of social development, the state is number 1 in India, particularly in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to education, health, social justice and gender equality and in the health sector, the state’s achievements are on par with many of the developing nations in the world.
Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Thiruvananthapuram acknowledged by the United Nations University works proactively with community stakeholders to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all aspects of education, learning and skill development. RCE Thiruvananthapuram focuses on creating platforms and opportunities for strategic thinking and knowledge exchange in the areas of biodiversity, health, sustainable agriculture, disaster management and energy conservation. RCE Thiruvananthapuram located in the south Indian state of Kerala has pioneered several initiatives and works along with the community, youth and decision makers to bring strategic improvements in all fields of sustainable development. Kerala School Agri Fest, Campus Leaders for Sustainable Development, Low Carbon Schools Initiative, Green Audit & Carbon Footprint Estimation in Institutions, Chemical Free Agricultural Promotion Programmes are a few initiatives in this direction.
Vision:
The vision of the RCE Thiruvananthapuram is to tackle the problems identified in the key challenges in the region and contribute to the promotion of Education for Sustainable Development at regional, national and global levels. RCE Thiruvananthapuram aims to create a benchmark for other regions in tackling sustainable development challenges and contribute to the goals set by the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and, of late, by 'Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs' or 'ESD for 2030'.
Goals and objectives:
Short-term objectives
- Create an interdisciplinary and multifaceted platform for promoting collaborative initiatives among the key regional stakeholders and others interested to realize a sustainable Trivandrum
- Formulate a comprehensive research database and network for the Government and Industry to help them integrate sustainability into their policies and practices
- Empower and educate the youth in the region to be a formidable force in pressing issues of sustainability and building youth volunteer initiatives
- Develop several capacity building initiatives and training sessions to educate people entrusted with various roles in society to practice sustainability in their vocations
Long-term objectives
- Raise public awareness and action about the key sustainability issues in the region (especially in the contect of threatened biodiversity, agriculture, and traditional knowledge) for a sustainable way of life in the region
- Bring about interregional and global collaboration with other RCEs, developing joint projects, research and mechanisms for sharing and disseminating knowledge, experiences, expertise and best practices in ESD
Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) is the Secretariat of RCE Thiruvananthapuram acknowledged by United Nations University. CISSA has taken the lead role in establishing the RCE in Thiruvananthapuram by inviting various Stakeholders into the RCE network and is functioning as its Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram. Apart from being its Secretariat, CISSA facilitate a mentoring role to RCE Thiruvananthapuram by providing expert guidance to intellectual discussions and activities initiated by the RCE Thiruvananthapuram.
Name of organisation: Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA)
Role: Partner & Headquarters/Secretariat of RCE Thiruvananthapuram
Contact name: Dr. Suresh Kumar C
Contact email: cissaindia@gmail.com
Name of organisation: University of Kerala-Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries
Role: Partner
Contact name: Dr.A. Biju Kumar
Contact email: aquaticbiology@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Triveni Ayurveda
Role: Partner
Contact name: Dr. C. Suresh Kumar
Contact email: ayurveda@eth.net
Name of organisation: Bharatheeya Vidyapeedom Central School, Parassala
Role: Partner
Contact name: Sri. Rana Prathap K
Contact email: principalbvpcs@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Mitraniketan
Role: Partner
Contact name: Dr. Reghu Rama Das
Contact email: kvmitraniketan@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Santhigram
Role: Partner
Contact name: Sri. L.Pankajakshan
Contact email: santhigramkerala@gmail.com
Name of organisation: State Horticulture Mission, Govt. of Kerala
Role: Partner
Contact name: Director
Contact email: mdshmkerala@yahoo.co.in
Name of organisation: MG College Thiruvananthapuram
Role: Partner
Contact name: Principal/HoD
Contact email: nssmgcollege@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Society of Energy Engineers and Managers (SEEM)
Role: Partner
Contact name: Chief Operating Officer
Contact email: seemhq2011@gmail.com
Name of organisation: Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management-Kerala (IIITM-K)
Role: Partner
Contact name: Faculty
Contact email: info@iiitmk.ac.in
Name of organisation: Learning Monk Foundation
Role: Partner
Contact name: Sri. Dinkar Krishnan V
Contact email: dinkar@lmonk.com
Name of organisation: Global Academy for Hospitality Skills
Role: Partner
Contact name: Sri. Sunil Somarajan
Contact email: somarajan_sunil@yahoo.co.in
Activities
Education Programme:
- Organising science popularisation in local and regional levels to bridge the gap between science and society.
- A national movement titled 'Good Food Movement' to create awareness on the impact of junk foods to ensure health of school students and youth, and to move towards food sovereignty, food security and food democracy.
- Organising awareness programmes in schools and colleges about E-waste management and safe disposal, Biodiversity conservation, Low carbon life styles, Plastic free campaign, 'Kerala School Agri Fest' (to inculcate the spirit of agriculture in youth to achieve local food security, nutritional security and biodiversity conservation to cultivate love for agriculture among School students) and promote scientific research/education initiatives.
Research Programme:
- Conservation and Sustainable utilisation of Biodiversity and its components.
- Promoting Organic Agriculture and develop novel organic inputs.
- Develop appropriate Green Audit for reducing Carbon footprint and Green auditing.
- Climate change, impacts and development of resilience.
Campus Leaders Programme: creating campus leaders areas of SDGs.
- Organising Trainer's Training Programme for skill development for entrepreneurship, start-ups, initiatives etc.
- Rural development through Farmers movement.
- Training/internship for PhD scholars, MPhil and PG Students.
- Campus Leaders for Sustainable Development
- Low Carbon School Initiatives
- Kerala School Agri Fest
- Plastic Free Campaign
- Global Prize ESD Okayama Award of Japan 2017
Projects
Communication Channels
Contact Details
cissaindia@gmail.com
unurcetrivandrum@gmail.com
RCE Thiruvananthapuram
Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA)
T.C .15/510, USRA-55, Udarasiromani Road,
Vellayambalam, Thiruvananthapuram - 695010, Kerala, India
Ph: +91 471 2722151 | +91 9447205913
