קתדרת אונסקו לטכנולוגיה, אינטרנציונליזציה וחינוך

Collaboration with UNESCO Chair on gender equality and women’s empowerment, Amitra University, India

As part of the activity of UNESCO Chair on Technology, Internationalization and Education in Tel Aviv University, School of education, on 18.5.2017 we hosted Prof. Rao Bhavani from Amitra University in India, which recently awarded an UNESCO chair on gender equality and women’s empowerment. In the inspiring meeting with Prof. Bhavani we learned about her remarkable work promoting empowerment of women in India.

Her visit was definitely the first step of a mutual cooperation between the chairs

Ground  water purification: A Joint project by The consulate general of Israel to south India, Amrita & Tel Aviv University

The collaboration between Amrita University Ammachi Labs and TAU’s Science and Technology Education Center was established in mid 2017, first as preliminary conversations within the framework of the UNESCO chairs holders: Prof. Bahavani Ro, UNESCO chair in Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality, and Prof. Rafi Nachmias, UNESCO chair in technology, internationalization, and education.

During the visit of Prof. Ro to Israel she conducted a seminar with our researchers and presented the work of her Labs. In December 2017 Prof. Rafi Nachmias and Prof. David Mioduser conducted a series of seminars and workshops with the participation of the Amrita University colleagues at the campus in Kerala. The activities focused on two main topics: (1) The incorporation of advanced technologies for learning (e.g., online courses, virtual reality, robotics) into educational processes in both formal and informal settings, specially in distant rural areas, and (2) The use of these technologies for training students in required technical and technological trades, and for supporting life-skills acquisition, by populations in far rural settings.

Guidelines for further research collaboration were discussed during the visit, including joint research projects, joint workshops and conferences, and graduate students exchange plans.

The research project focusing on the implementation of ground water purification technologies in rural areas in South India is a result of the ongoing and developing collaboration. The main goal of the joint project is to study and support people’s acquisition of life-skills, their development of an appropriate technological literacy, and their gradual construction of knowledge and skills required to assimilate new technologies based on real-life needs.

The background of the specific project is the challenging reality created by recent Monsoon floods that contaminated much of the drinking water supply and left many of the water resources in the state of Kerala polluted and unsafe for use. The devastating flash floods took the life of approximately 483 people and displaced nearly a million people from their homes.

The Ammachi Labs and The Science and Technology Education center at TAU agreed to conduct a research project focusing on the implementation of ground water purification technologies in rural areas in South India with the support of the Israeli general consulate of South India. For this purpose, portable water filtration systems (Israeli technologies) are being installed in flood affected areas, and appropriate educational and training programs will be developed and evaluated. Tel Aviv University researchers will collaborate with Amrita University colleagues in the development of the training materials and curriculum, monitoring its implementation, and examining the acquisition of life-skills and attitudes towards water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). An important outcome expected from the project is the development of an evidence-based model for the dissemination of technologies affecting people’s real-life needs (e.g., for learning, working, communicating and fostering self-empowerment) and the assimilation of these into the personal and community life.

In January 21^st an Inaugural event took place attended by several dignitaries and officials from the government of South India and the Consulate General of Israel in India.

For more information:

Low-cost water purifiers under Amrita’s Jivamritam project launched - from The New Indian Express

A water purifier from dialysis filter - from The Times Of India

Ammachi Labs - Facebook page

 

The Chair collaborates with institutions across different regions, including:

• Europe - European commission:
•  Partnerships through the Horizon project with Estonia, Germany, Austria, Finlan, and Italy.
•  Partnerships through COGIE project with Germany and Hungary
•  Initial collaboration with Latvia, Czech Republic and Slovakia – sent proposal to ERASMUS+.
• India: Joint projects with Amrita University.
• USA: Cooperation with the University of California, Irvine.
• Australia: Monash University
• Netherlands: Collaborative research on hybrid learning spaces.
• Taiwan: Collaborations on technology in education.