From August 25 to September 3, 2024, two faculty members from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP)—Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wiwandari Handayani, ST, MT, MPS, and Rukuh Setiadi, ST, MEM, PhD—embarked on an academic visit to the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP) in India. This visit was part of the prestigious SMUS Joint Teaching Research Course 2024 (https://gcsmus.org/re-narrating-berlins-post-colonial-spaces-2/), designed to foster international academic collaboration and promote interdisciplinary learning.
Throughout the program, the UNDIP delegation participated in a range of impactful activities. They delivered lectures on Environmental Humanities and Science and Humanism at Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP), addressing a diverse cohort of students. They also participated on field visits to two ecologically significant sites—the Kolkata Wetlands and the Sundarbans, which are renowned for their vital role in environmental preservation and disaster risk mitigation. Additionally, the team contributed to the SOR4D Regional Workshop-cum-Exhibition, an event that seamlessly integrated academic discourse with exhibitions showcasing innovations in sustainability.
Lectures at IIT KGP
This activity enriched the understanding of resilience issues not only from the perspective of urban and regional planning but also through the lens of the humanities and social sciences. Resilience was approached as a complex phenomenon involving non-human elements, which are often overlooked. This perspective offered new insights into viewing resilience not merely as a technical process but as a concept shaped by the interplay of various aspects of life.
In addition to the academic sessions, the team conducted a focused group discussion (FGD) with the local community in Kumirmari Village. This interaction provided valuable insights into the lived experiences and challenges faced by the community, particularly in managing environmental and social vulnerabilities. The dialogue served as an opportunity to explore resilience practices at the grassroots level, further enriching the team’s understanding of local knowledge systems and their integration into broader sustainability frameworks.
FGD Activities with the Local Community in Kumirmari Village, Sundarban, India
These activities not only enriched academic perspectives but also aligned with the goals of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, which seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. By adopting a transdisciplinary approach that integrates perspectives from the humanities, social sciences, and urban planning, the team redefined resilience as a complex phenomenon involving human and non-human elements, moving beyond purely technical solutions.
This visit reaffirmed DURP UNDIP’s commitment to advancing global academic collaboration while contributing to the realization of SDG 11. The experience is expected to have a lasting impact, providing actionable insights for resilient and sustainable urban and regional planning at both local and international levels.