UWTSD to support expansion of BRIDGES Coalition with new Regional Programme Office in India
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is set to play a key role in expanding the global reach of the BRIDGES Coalition following approval for a new Regional Programme Office (RPO) for South Asia.
The establishment of the new office, confirmed at the BRIDGES Governing Council meeting on 26 June 2026, marks a significant milestone for the international sustainability network. Based in GIFT City, Gujarat, India, the Regional Programme Office will be hosted by the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation.
UWTSD’s International Programme Office (IPO), working alongside the BRIDGES Directorate, will collaborate closely with the Foundation to establish the new office, strengthening the Coalition’s presence across South Asia and creating new opportunities for international collaboration in humanities-led sustainability science.
The new Regional Programme Office forms part of the BRIDGES Coalition’s 2026–2028 strategy to expand its global network through regional hubs that foster interdisciplinary research, education and knowledge exchange. It will support the growth of partnerships across South Asia while helping to strengthen connections between local communities, policymakers and the international sustainability science community.
Hosted by the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to widening access to education and research, the office will focus on promoting inclusive and interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. Its work will encourage collaboration across disciplines including education, communications, the arts and humanities, alongside science and technology, to address complex social and environmental challenges.
Professor Luci Attala, Deputy Executive Director UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES Coalition and Director of the UK BRIDGES Hub and the International Programme Office at UWTSD, said:
“The establishment of the South Asia Regional Programme Office is an exciting development for both UWTSD and the BRIDGES Coalition. As host of the International Programme Office, we are proud to support the Coalition’s continued global growth and to help strengthen meaningful partnerships that place the humanities at the heart of sustainability science.
“South Asia is home to extraordinary expertise, innovation and cultural knowledge. Working alongside the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation, we look forward to creating new opportunities for collaboration that will support research, education and community engagement, while helping to address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing the region and the wider world.”
The Regional Programme Office will also support the implementation of the UNESCO Guidelines for Sustainability Science by encouraging regional engagement, developing new partnerships and helping to establish additional BRIDGES member organisations and hubs throughout South Asia.
Professor Steven Hartman, Founding Executive Director of the BRIDGES Coalition, added:
“The approval of the South Asia Regional Programme Office represents an important step in delivering BRIDGES’ strategic vision to build a truly global coalition for humanities-led sustainability science. By working with the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation and our colleagues at UWTSD, we are creating a strong regional platform that will foster new partnerships, support knowledge exchange and strengthen the contribution of the humanities to sustainability transformations.
“This collaboration reflects the Coalition’s commitment to developing inclusive regional networks that connect international expertise with locally grounded knowledge, ensuring that sustainability solutions are shaped by diverse cultural perspectives and community experience.”
The Regional Programme Office is expected to become operational between July and September 2026, with a full programme of administrative and collaborative activities commencing from October 2026.
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
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Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
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