The Centre of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design (CoEUPD) at National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) inaugurated a four-day foundation program on “Urban Renaissance Tech Program for Urban Managers” at Oshin Hotels, Calicut.
This credit-based certification course, a special initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, is being organized in collaboration with the four Centres of Excellence in Urban Planning and Design established across the country. The program aims to train and certify urban managers with technical and managerial skills in infrastructure, planning, finance, and climate resilience.
Dr. Naseer M.A. welcomed the participants, while the program was formally inaugurated by Dr. P.P. Anilkumar, Chairman, CoEUPD, who highlighted the Ministry’s vision and stressed the importance of fostering responsive and future-ready planning practices in India.
Dr. Chithra K, Head of the Department of Architecture and Planning, NIT Calicut, emphasized the urgent need for capacity building in urban management, especially in the context of rapid urbanisation and emerging climate challenges.
The technical sessions are being delivered by eminent experts including Dr. Shyni Anilkumar, Dr. Bimal P., Dr. Firoz Mohammed C., and Dr. Pournami P.N. from NITC’s Departments of Architecture & Planning and Computer Science & Engineering, along with specialists from other CoEs across the country.
With the participation of nearly 50 professionals from across India, the program has created a platform for practitioners and academics to deliberate on critical issues in urban planning and design. The sessions are being conducted in two batches and will conclude on August 27, 2025.
This initiative marks an important milestone in CoEUPD’s mission under MoHUA to strengthen capacity building and foster multidisciplinary learning, research, and innovation in the field of urban planning.