IN A BID to strengthen academic and research work in disaster studies, the Ateneo de Manila University has partnered with Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India.

“The linkage focuses on disaster studies, an emerging field that merges sciences, engineering, and the social sciences in studying and analyzing disaster prevention, management, and mitigation,” ADMU said.

“The field of disaster studies is fast emerging as one of the most important interdisciplinary areas of study and research, as the world grapples with an increasing number of disasters especially with the ongoing climate crisis,” it added.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by TISS Vice Chancellor and Director Prof. Shalini Bharat and ADMU President Fr. Roberto Yap.

Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran witnessed the event, while ADMU’s Vice President for University and Global Relations Fr. Jose Cruz was also in attendance.

Bharat said that the quality of the partnership and nature of cooperation would be “effective, meaningful, and strong.”

“In a globalized world, more than ever before, we need extraordinary international cooperation —leveraging on mutual strengths and priorities in responding to the needs in the field of disaster risk reduction and knowledge building,” he said.

Yap meanwhile expressed hope that the collaboration will be beneficial for both institutions.

“My hope in this partnership between Ateneo and Tata Institute of Social Sciences will be mutually beneficial for our programs of study and research in the field of disaster risk management and resilience, which is much needed by both our countries,” Yap said.

Under the partnership, ADMU and TISS will engage in student, faculty and researcher mobility programs; information and academic resource sharing; and internships, symposia, lectures, and research activities in disaster studies.

For Ateneo, the primary partners will be the Schools of Science and Engineering and Social Sciences of the Loyola Schools, while for TISS it will be the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies.

As part of its efforts in linking Philippine and Indian institutions for partnerships, Kumaran said that the Indian Embassy in the Philippines has been integral in helping realize the partnership.

“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 other’s 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,” Kumaran said.