Transforming urban and infrastructure systems
The School of Systems & Infrastructure (SSI) at the IIHS (Institution Deemed to be) University focuses on transforming key urban and infrastructure systems to improve equity, well-being and environmental outcomes for citizens and cities in India and the Global South. Its core themes are achieving sustained and equitable economic, social and environmental outcomes via better governance, finance, technology, and infrastructure service delivery. The SSI’s work is firmly rooted in the Indian context, drawing knowledge and experience from other global contexts, and has implications across cities in the Global South.
The SSI’s focus spans various interdisciplinary areas of inquiry and avenues of engagement, including water and sanitation, solid waste management, energy, transport, and mobility, land and planning, built environment, and information technology and information technology-enabled services (IT/ITES).
The SSI co-anchors the University’s Master’s in Urban Economic and Infrastructure Development programme, and supports the Doctoral Programme. It supports other Master’s programmes through Core Courses and a range of Elective Courses.
The SSI has contributed to teaching in the IIHS Urban Fellows Programme, offering a Commons course on Urban Systems and Infrastructure; Elective Courses (Changing Cities and Changing Climate; Decarbonising the City; Resilient Neighbourhoods; Urban Regulation; Unpacking Urban Practice; and Urban Infrastructure Resilience) on critical themes in urban development, governance, and sustainability; and a Core Course, Build, which equipped students with essential skills and frameworks to engage with urban practice.
The SSI’s research connects across themes, ranging from access, inclusion, and equity, resilient urban and infrastructure systems, health and well-being, to infrastructure-linked economic development.
IIHS was commissioned to assist in setting up the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) by defining the governance charter, financing strategy, vision and mission, work plan, advocacy and membership plan, and conducting research and consultations to finalise these. IIHS also reviewed CDRI’s Fellowship programme. This engagement was supported by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
The GCEW aimed to redefine the value and governance of water as a Global Common Good. IIHS housed the GCEW Distributed Secretariat and Support team, and supported two reports for the UN Water Conference 2023, a series of working papers, and a main report in 2024, and also hosted two workshops. The Commission was initiated by the Dutch government and supported by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
The study analysed how urban resilience and disaster-resilient infrastructure concepts are being taught in select disciplines that work in urban India, the gaps in the current curricula and the pedagogical approaches being used. The study also built the capacities of practitioners in urban areas by reimagining urban resilience and how it could be taught in Indian higher education. The study was undertaken in partnership with the Development Planning Unit (DPU)–University College London (UCL), and funded by the British Council.
This research stream of the PEAK Urban project studied the role of industrial mega-infrastructure in Bengaluru’s transition to a service-sector economy. It examined questions of state rescaling, the role of non-state actors in the process of planning and developing these projects, their policy implications, and the historical trajectory that has led to this approach to infrastructure development. It was conducted in partnership with universities in UK, China, Colombia and South Africa, and funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)–Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
This project explored how energy transition investments can promote social equity and support a just transition. It worked with institutional actors, including development finance institutions, to align energy goals with social justice outcomes. The project highlighted how the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy can contribute to achieving SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), and also SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), and SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Led by Utrecht University in collaboration with Stellenbosch University and the University of Freiburg, the project was funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
For any inquiries or further information, please write to contactus@iihs.ac.in.
