CAPABLE Program: India In-Person Training Phase Successfully Conducted at BNCA Pune and IIT Bombay
Pune, 6th January 2025: The India phase of the prestigious Capacity Building in Built Environment Sustainability Research (CAPABLE) program, was concluded successfully, marking a significant milestone in the two-year collaboration between BNCA, IIT Bombay, Liverpool John Moores University (UK), and PCERF. Jointly funded by the British Council under the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) and Scheme for Promoting Academic and Research Collaborations (SPARC), the program focuses on advancing sustainability in the built environment.
The in-person training phase in Pune welcomed 10 Indian students, 4 UK students, and 3 UK faculty members. Led by project investigators Dr, Bakul Rao (Lead, India), Professor at IIT-Bombay; Dr, Vaishali Anagal (Co-Lead, India), Associate Professor at BNCA; Dr, Anupa Manewa (Lead, UK), Senior Lecturer at LJMU; and Dr, Mohan Siriwardena (Co-Lead, UK), Senior Lecturer at LJMU, the program provided an enriching blend of academic learning and practical exposure.
Dr. Anurag Kashyap congratulated all the Indian and UK students for securing their participation in the project and stressed upon the significance of circular economy as a means to achieve sustainable development goals. Dr. Vaishali Anagal highlighted that ‘This is the student centric project where UG and PG students are direct beneficiaries of the project. The project aims to nurture the research capabilities of UG and PG students through online and offline training in both the UK and India. The program has offered opportunity of cultural and knowledge exchange for the students of both the countries through interactions with the national and international faculty and fellow students.’ Dr Mohan Siriwarden said, ‘We are promoting sustainable built environment through this project by disseminating knowledge in the area of the circular economy. The students participating in this project will be able to work as an expert in green technologies and sustainability in the near future.’
Dr. Amruta Garud from BNCA, coordinated the program from the India side, playing a key role to ensure its smooth execution. Dr, Sujata Karve initiated the site visits to IGBC and LEED-certified buildings, providing participants with firsthand insights into green building practices, while also leading the green building certification training through the Environmental Architecture and Planning Department of BNCA, offering participants a deeper understanding of sustainable building certifications. Another highlight was the hands-on bamboo workshop conducted by bamboo construction expert Architect Sayali Andhare, offering practical skills in sustainable construction techniques. Other activities included cultural exchange through heritage walks in Old Pune City and the Fort Area in Mumbai. At IIT Bombay, training sessions featured talks by green engineering expert Dr, Yogendra Shastri and environmental governance expert Dr, Ajay Deshpande, enriching participants’ knowledge on sustainability practices.
“This phase was an incredible opportunity to gain practical insights and foster knowledge exchange across borders,” shared a UK participant.
With the India phase complete, the program will progress to its UK phase from May to June 2025. CAPABLE will culminate in an international conference at IIT Bombay in January 2026, showcasing the program’s transformative outcomes in sustainability research and collaboration and a book focusing on circular economy in the built environment.
