The Council of Architecture – Training & Research Centre (COA-TRC), Pune, in collaboration with MBS College, Dwarka, New Delhi, will organise a five-day Online Faculty Development Programme (FDP) titled “Urban Systems and Design Research Methodologies: Towards a Sustainable Environment” from 29 December 2025 to 2 January 2026.
The programme is scheduled daily from 10:30 AM to 1:45 PM and is aimed at strengthening research capacity among architecture and planning educators by addressing contemporary urban challenges through structured research methodologies, policy frameworks, and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Focus and Objectives
The FDP is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of urban systems, sustainable urbanism, and design-led research approaches. It will explore critical issues such as high-density development, infrastructure planning, mobility, environmental resilience, and human wellbeing within urban environments. Emphasis will also be placed on ethical research practices, including justice, equity, informed consent, and privacy in urban research and design.
Key Learning Outcomes
Participants will gain insights into:
- Application of policy frameworks in urban planning and sustainable development
- Identification and evaluation of pressing urban issues in megacities
- Framing robust research problems and methodologies
- Addressing human wellness, safety, and livability in urban design
- Ethical considerations in planning and architectural research
Distinguished Expert Speakers
The FDP will feature eminent academicians and practitioners from across the country, including:
- Dr. Sanjukta Bhaduri – Research Approaches in Urban Planning
- Ar. Lovlesh Sharma – Blue-Green Infrastructure & Water Management Systems
- Dr. Mandeep Singh – Disaster Risk Mitigation and Urban Resilience
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta – Capacity Building and Research Methodology in Urban Planning
- Ar. Alka Arya – Environmental Design Research in Vedic Town and Country Planning
- Dr. Mahfuzar Rahman Barbhuiya – Quantitative Research Methods in Architecture
- Dr. Tanaya Verma – Vernacular Architecture and Sustainable Urban Systems
- Ar. Punit Sethi – Professional Ethics and Standards
- Dr. Siddhartha Koduru – AI, AR, VR and Urban Design Research
- Ar. Tanushree Das – Urban Design Pedagogy in Research
Eligibility and Registration
The programme is open to faculty members, architects, and professionals. Registration can be done either under the Collaborative Training Programme (CTP) or as an independent participant.
- Registration Fee: ₹1,500
- Last Date to Register: 26 December 2025 (5:30 PM)
- Register Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtVeVyb4hA32lruf5-wYpyQwRP5i8EM8swtQ7n2Kw8fg_mLQ/viewform?usp=send_form
Participants who attend all sessions and complete the required assignments, EoPT, and feedback will receive an E-Certificate via email. The programme is not open to students.
Academic Coordination
- Convenor: Prof. Jayshree Deshpande, Director, COA-TRC Pune
- Coordinator: Prof. Alpna Rohatgi, MBS College
- Online Coordinators: Prof. H.K.G. Nambiar and Ar. Pallabi Banerjee
The FDP reflects COA-TRC’s continued efforts to enhance research-oriented teaching and sustainable urban discourse among architecture and planning professionals across India.