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Digital Blended Learning

Developing scalable, high-quality digital learning materials on interdisciplinary urban practice, science and studies.

The Programme is a key means of achieving the IIHS’ core objectives of access and inclusion, offering scalable, high-quality learning content at low to no cost. With a rich, growing repository of digital learning assets on urban practice, science and studies, the Programme is fast becoming the go-to resource for all things urban.

"The Programme extends IIHS' commitment to knowledge dissemination, ensuring that knowledge creation, application, and learning continuously inform one another."

Learn anytime, anywhere

Digital blended courses that make urban knowledge accessible to academics, students, and practitioners across contexts

Knowledge repository

A growing digital library of curated learning resources on urban studies, science, and practice for global audiences

Global expertise

Learning material developed with experts from India and around the world, available in multiple languages

Collaborative learning

Peer-to-peer learning and multimedia-rich experiences that support problem-solving on pressing urban challenges

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Courses

Short Learning Modules

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Digital Blended Learning Courses

MOOCs designed and developed in partnership with some of the world’s leading faculty and institutions

01

Urbanisation and sustainability

Sustainable Cities

Developed in partnership with the SDG Academy, this course examines how cities function and how emerging urban challenges can be addressed through a multidisciplinary lens. Curated and led by Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS, it features insights from 27 leading urbanists and case studies from cities around the world. For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_cities@iihs.ac.in.

3–5 hrs/week 9 weeks

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02

Equity in housing

Housing Justice: A View from Indian Cities

This course explores housing inequality in Indian cities and introduces approaches to housing justice, examining practices and modes of action that one can begin to undertake.

Taught by Gautam Bhan, IIHS School of Human Development, the course derives from the voices of on-ground practitioners and over a decade of IIHS’ experience.

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_HJ@iihs.ac.in.

4–5 hrs/week 5 weeks

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03

Research communication

Writing and Disseminating Grey Literature

This course equips learners to make their research more accessible and appealing to a wider audience through formats such as opinion pieces, data stories, photo essays, and social media.

It draws from the work of the IIHS Word Lab and Media Lab.

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_GL@iihs.ac.in.

4–5 hrs/week 6 weeks

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04

Economic policymaking

The Art and Science of Economic Policy

Standing at the intersection of economics, political philosophy and public administration, this course explores the finer details of policymaking, translating complex tasks around building the republic into everyday practicalities and actionable approaches and tools.

This course is taught by eminent economists and former civil servants Vijay Laxman Kelkar and Ajay Shah, and Aromar Revi, Director, IIHS.

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_TASEP@iihs.ac.in.

4–5 hrs/week 5 weeks

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05

Comparative urbanism

Shaping Urban Futures

Developed by IIHS as part of the PEAK Urban collaboration, this course focuses on the importance of cities in the 21st-century global context and helps develop an understanding of the frameworks and lenses under which they are studied.

With international faculty (including from the African Centre for Cities, South Africa; Universidad EAFIT, Colombia; and the University of Oxford, UK) and from IIHS, it draws on the rich research experiences of over 100 researchers working across the world.

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_SUF@iihs.ac.in.

3–5 hrs/week 6 weeks

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06

Education for inclusion

Reimagining Education for Equity: Interrogating Policy and Practice

This course examines the linkages between education and inequality in India, focusing on pathways toward more equitable, just, and sustainable futures and advancing more equitable teaching–learning practices.

Taught by Poonam Batra and Amir Bashir Bazaz, the course derives from the four-year, four-country research programme, Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures (TESF).

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_NZBF@iihs.ac.in.

3–5 hrs/week 6 weeks

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07

Sustainable building design

Net-Zero Building Fundamentals

This course introduces the foundations of sustainable and high-performance building design. Learners explore approaches to affordable design, alongside tools for evidence-based decision-making in comfort, energy, water, and carbon.

This is a six-week, self-paced course, with 3–5 hours of learning per week. It is jointly offered by the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and IIHS, drawing from their work on sustainable buildings, particularly through the SDI challenge for students across India.

For a customised hybrid version of this course, write to courseteam_NZBF@iihs.ac.in.

3–5 hrs/week 6 weeks

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08

Sustainable building design

SDI: Self-Learning Modules

SDI is the world’s largest net-zero building design competition, conducted by IIHS and the Alliance for Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), supported by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Participating teams received access to digital blended learning modules covering several topics relating to building science, aligned with competition themes and delivered through videos, quizzes and applied problem-solving on a customised Learning Management System.

Currently available only to SDI participants.

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Short Learning Modules

Targeted insights into contemporary urban issues

Short, focused learning modules offering targeted insights into contemporary urban issues

Modules for Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme

The IIHS-led Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP) offered capacity building programmes for urban local body officials across Tamil Nadu, covering the full sanitation cycle, faecal sludge management, regulatory frameworks, treatment systems, and inclusive sanitation.

These have been adapted into short digital learning modules used in training sessions across the State.

Climate Resilient Development Pathways (CRDPs)

Developed under the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR)—Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) project, this study examined climate risk and response strategies among agrarian households in Karnataka.

Findings have been converted into short Kannada-language videos featuring farmers and migrants, exploring migration, coping mechanisms, adaptation, and climate resilience.

Estimating Housing Shortage in India

Content from the IIHS Capacity Development programme’s training provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) has been synthesised into a self-learning module on India’s housing landscape, covering definitions, estimation methods, policy frameworks, and the roles of government and private actors in addressing housing shortages.

This digital blended learning module will soon be available on the National Urban Learning Platform (NULP).

Role of IoT in Rural Water Supply

This pilot module draws on training delivered to 1,000+ government officials across 30+ programmes delivered by the IIHS Capacity Development programme under the Jal Jeevan Mission. It introduces IoT applications in rural water supply systems and governance.

This digital blended learning module will soon be available on the National Urban Learning Platform (NULP).

Legacy Waste Management in Indian Cities

The IIHS Practice programme has led over 20 solid waste management projects in Karnataka, including DPR preparation for bioremediation of historic waste, management of construction and demolition waste, and efficient municipal waste collection and transport. It also conducts site assessments for legacy waste remediation and trains operators in large-scale waste-to-compost facilities.

This expertise is being used to develop a self-learning module on legacy waste management, which will soon be available on the National Urban Learning Platform (NULP).

Forest Ecology and Ecosystem Services

Developed with the IIHS School of Environment & Sustainability for the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), this module introduces forest ecology, ecosystem services, hydrological cycles, and forest disturbances such as fire, drought, and invasive species, along with approaches to managing forests for water, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and ecosystem services.

This digital blended learning module will soon be available on the iGOT Karmayogi platform.

Conservation Agriculture

This interactive digital learning module introduces a farming system that prevents loss of arable land and supports the regeneration of degraded soils through permanent soil cover, minimal soil disturbance, and crop diversification. It offers an immersive learning experience that presents core scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging format through visual and interactive design.

Learning Services

Advisory services and training for internal and external partners

Capacity Development

The Programme supports internal teams and external organisations through workshops and advisory services for effective blended learning design and delivery. It delivers training on digital blended teaching and course design, covering instructional design, digital tools, flipped classrooms, learning platforms, collaboration tools, and video production with the IIHS Media Lab

Programme design

The Programme partners with academic and research institutions, corporates, and other stakeholders to design bespoke programmes and deliver courses. It also provides consultation services to identify collaboration opportunities and develop courses and digital learning materials, drawing on IIHS’ in-house capabilities and wider partner network.

Selected partner organisations

Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE)
Ericsson Global Services India
Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy
Public Health Foundation of India
SDG Academy
Transparency Solutions

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Programme Office

For any inquiries or further information, please reach out to dbl@iihs.ac.in.

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