On February 1, 2023, the University of Toronto partnered with Tata Trusts to launch the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF), with goals to create opportunities for students, faculty and entrepreneurs at U of T and universities across India; generate research on and solutions to urban, rural, environmental and health challenges; and to provide an Indian base for public outreach, alumni engagement and business development.
A key component of U of T’s engagement with research, entrepreneurship and academia in India is School of Cities India — a commitment by SofC to engage with students, faculty, municipalities, urban stakeholders, and policymakers in India on a host of multidisciplinary initiatives relevant to urban studies, urban data & training.
The vision of School of Cities India is to conduct multidisciplinary research, mobilize knowledge, and build capacity that helps the Indian continent become more sustainable and ensures that the Indian people 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 and rural India
- create new, interdisciplinary, Indo-centric approaches to solving these problems
- demonstrate these approaches in urban and rural areas
- create education and training programs to transfer knowledge to both academe and government
- foster the creation of start-ups to deliver, support and maintain these solutions
Our programs so far include:
- A capstone project (IMUCP), where a team of 4th year undergraduate students from Indian universities and the University Toronto undertake an 8 month research and development project on a topic defined by a sponsor
- Graduate student fellowships, of 4-12 month duration, to work on a problem defined by a sponsor
- A catalyst program, where Toronto and Indian faculty members and students conduct joint research
- Major projects that address important problems facing Indian society and are:
- Multidisciplinary
- Involve India- and Toronto-based faculty and students
- Involve Indian government, NGOs and community participation
Events
Sagar Putra: Decolonizing Mumbai’s planning imagination from its coastal margins
This talk foregrounds fisher stories to help recover worlds that relate to the movement, relations and knowledge mediated by water as opposed to land, propertied ownership and pollution.
From Dust to Dust: Air pollution and urban experience in the Indian Anthropocene
This talk will address these questions by situating them within a cultural politics of environment and development.
Revamping Bengaluru’s garbage infrastructure and re-inscribing caste
This talk discusses the infrastructure around garbage and waste in Bengaluru and questions through which lens these infrastructure questions are posed and the consequences of reordering this system.
Entangled ecologies of land, caste, and cattle in India’s agrarian-urban frontier
This talk will examine the shifting ecologies of land, caste, and cattle in and around India’s Millennial City – Gurgaon and analyze how agro-pastoralists navigate the massive overhauling of their lives and livelihoods.
AI and the City: Understanding new applications in urban environments
The AI and the City conference provides a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and knowledge exchange on the transformative role of AI in urban contexts. This conference is sponsored by the… Read more
Workshops
2025 Summer Workshop on Urban Mixed Methods across the Disciplines
Applications for the 2025 session are closed. Applicants will be notified by May 2025. From July 22-24, 2025, the School of Cities will host its third annual workshop on urban… Read more
2024 Summer Workshop on Urban Mixed Methods across the Disciplines
From July 28-30, 2024, the School of Cities will host its second annual workshop on urban mixed methods. The multi-day workshop gathers a diverse group of talented doctoral students to… Read more
2023 Summer Workshop on Urban Mixed Methods across the Disciplines
This workshop will gather a diverse group of talented doctoral students to explore innovative research methodologies that engage with the theme of urbanism and cities.
Catalyst grants
U of T, together with School of Cities India and the U of T India Foundation are providing seed funds to support collaborative research initiatives through a call for proposals. U of T and UTIF are committed to the positive impact that universities can have through international partnerships and co-creation, and through this call aim to support new or existing collaborations that increase the sustainability and resilience of Indian cities and city-regions; facilitate high-impact research and solutions resulting in evidence-based recommendations, joint publications, and/or enhanced capacity to increase sustainability; or develop collaborative partnerships between U of T researchers and Indian academic, research, non-profit, or government entities.
Affiliated faculty
School of Cities India is a meeting place for faculty across the University of Toronto who conduct multidisciplinary research and mobilize knowledge on topics relevant to issues faced in urban and rural India.
News and media
School of Cities India in U of T News | Students from U of T and India’s Ashoka University explore urban challenges in Pune
Professor Karan Singh joins the School of Cities as Associate Director, School of Cities India
The Office of the Vice-President, International (OVPI) and the School of Cities are pleased to announce the appointment of the new Associate Director of the School of Cities India.
U of T Centre in India launches in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts
The University of Toronto launched The University of Toronto Centre in India today in Mumbai in partnership with Tata Trusts, one of India’s largest philanthropic organizations. Tata Trusts has been… Read more
University of Toronto Centre in India
In Feb 2023: U of T and Tata Trusts launched India Centre for urban and climate research. School of Cities leads collaboration in research, public engagement, and training.