Expanding the BRIDGES Global Coalition: New Regional Programme Office Opens in India

The BRIDGES Directorate is delighted to announce the approval, confirmed at the recent Governing Council Meeting on 26 June 2026, of the establishment of a Regional Programme Office (RPO) for South Asia, located in Gift City, Gujarat, India, to be hosted by the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation.

The BRIDGES Directorate and International Programme Office (IPO) at University of Wales Trinity Saint David will work closely with the Foundation to facilitate the establishment of the RPO, marking a significant expansion of the Coalition’s presence in the region.

Strategic Alignment: BRIDGES 2026–2028

This expansion is a core component of the BRIDGES Coalition's strategic objectives for 2026–2028, which prioritise the scaling of transdisciplinary sustainability science through the development of regional and thematic Hubs. By establishing this RPO, BRIDGES advances its commitment to:

• Expanding the Global Coalition: Deepening and diversifying international partnerships by anchoring the Coalition in new geographic areas.
• Targeting Underserved Regions: Ensuring the development of a dynamic, globally representative network of Hubs.
• Catalysing Local Impact: Identifying and engaging institutions with high potential to contribute to BRIDGES' overarching mission of humanities-driven sustainability science.

The Role of the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation

The TryfactaEDU Global Foundation is well positioned to host this new RPO. As a non-profit organisation dedicated to expanding access to education and research, the Foundation’s mission aligns with the BRIDGES Coalition’s approach to sustainability. The Foundation’s current mandate emphasises:

• Technological Integration: Utilising immersive learning and digital platforms to overcome geographical and resource-based barriers to education.
• Equity and Inclusion: A focused commitment to supporting underserved communities, with particular attention to educational and professional advancement.
• Sustainability-Oriented Research: Building academic and community-centred pathways that combine interdisciplinary perspectives to address complex social and environmental challenges.

Future Outlook

The collaboration between the BRIDGES Directorate, the UK-based International Programme Office and the new Regional Programme Office for South Asia hosted by TryfactaEDU Global Foundation represents a vital step in bridging the gap between international and regional science-policy interfaces and community-led, humanities-anchored sustainability initiatives. Leveraging the advantages of its Gift City location—including connections with emerging branch campuses of prominent international universities—the RPO will serve as a crucial node for fostering knowledge exchange, supporting the onboarding of new regional member organisations and hubs, and strengthening the local application of the UNESCO Guidelines for Sustainability Science.

The RPO will support the humanities-inclusive nature of sustainability science by helping foster the integration of educational sciences, communications, media disciplines, and traditional arts and humanities into the field. Its outreach and stakeholder engagement will focus on socio-technical transformations, with an emphasis on ethical and narrative-oriented considerations in areas such as water, urban planning, energy systems, bioethics, environmental ethics, AI ethics, and food systems.

Operational inception of the Regional Programme Office will unfold between July and September 2026, with a full range of activities contributing to BRIDGES both administratively and programmatically expected from October 2026.

This innovative partnership between BRIDGES and a non-university philanthropic institution strengthens the capacity of BRIDGES to pursue its global development while expanding the regional reach of BRIDGES consistent with the thematic vision and strategic focus endorsed by the BRIDGES Governing Council.

Read the official UWTSD Press Release