School of Cities India

In 2023, the University of Toronto partnered with India’s Tata Trusts to launch the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF) in Mumbai. The goal of the Foundation is to generate research on and solutions to India’s urban sustainability challenges by bringing U of T community members together with Indian partners from across sectors. 

School of Cities India plays a key role in the U of T India Foundation’s research and engagement work in India: it demonstrates SoC’s commitment to engage with India’s researchers, municipalities, urban stakeholders, and policymakers on a host of multidisciplinary initiatives relevant to urban studies, urban data & training. 

The vision of School of Cities India is to co-create multidisciplinary research with Indian partners; mobilize knowledge; and build capacity that supports Indian cities to become more sustainable and Indian people to thrive. 

The approach is to create uniquely India-focused research, education and engagement programs that, through co-creation: 

• engage governments, NGOs, and communities to understand the critical problems facing urban India’s cities of all sizes 
• create new, interdisciplinary, Indo-centric approaches to solving these problems that use global best practices and the expertise of U of T researchers 
• demonstrate these approaches in India’s urban areas 
• create education and training programs to transfer knowledge to both academe and government 
• support India-based start-ups to deliver, support and maintain these solutions 

Our programs so far include: 

1. A catalyst research grants program, where U of T and Indian researchers conduct joint research on vital issues that will support the sustainability and climate resilience of Indian cities
2. The School of Cities India Academic Lecture series (SOCIAL) on urban environments in India (see below under Events) 
3. An annual international conference in India on an urban issue affecting India (see below under Events)
4. Major research projects that address important problems facing Indian cities and that are: 
   • Multidisciplinary 
   • Involve U of T and India–based faculty and students 
   • Involve Indian government, NGOs and community participation 
5. Capstone projects, where teams of 4^th year undergraduate students from Indian universities and the University Toronto undertake an 8 month research and development project on an urban problem statement defined by an Indian partner organization  (learn more about IMUCP)