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ABOUT GSN

The United Nations has set up a global agenda - to guide the world toward sustainable development - with a focus on reducing poverty and inequality and promoting inclusion. This has come in the shape of policy directions like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and UN-Habitat’s New Urban Agenda. These global agendas serve to influence the direction for much of future research, especially in the disciplines/areas of urban planning, architecture, construction management, urban governance, environmental management and community resilience. However, there is an ongoing debate among both academics and practitioners on translating global agendas into local contexts. There is also an increasing realisation of the need to promote an exchange of knowledge and sharing of best practices and experiences between Global North and Global South. Focusing on vital development scenarios that characterise the Global South, the Global South Nexus (GNS) was founded in April 2021 within the School of Design and the Built Environment (DBE). GSN aims to promote a series of advanced and alternative theses around the production and management of a sustainable built environment in the Global South. The Global South Nexus encourages global north-south research within Curtin and beyond, supported by an international advisory board. We promote debates on various approaches to - and theoretical positions on - north-south dichotomy. The nexus will generate north-south reality-based interdisciplinary knowledge to promote SDGs globally. We search for theories relevant to Global South ground realities that can inform practices to promote global sustainable development while shaping the built environment through effective planning, management and governance. The platform will search for solutions that enable good governance through effective policy and regulations, set appropriate codes and design criteria, and, most importantly, encourage emancipated voices and debates among global stakeholders of development across the Global North and South. KEY OBJECTIVES • Integrate SDGs into university teaching and research • Undertake exchange of knowledge and practice between the Global North and South • Foster research innovation in sustainable transformation in the Global South • Demonstrate DBE’s research commitment towards co-creating sustainable built environment

Welcome Video

GSN Founding Co-Directors

DR MOHAMMAD SWAPAN, Senior Lecturer (Curtin University)

DR ATIQ ZAMAN, Senior Lecturer (Curtin University)

DR SHAHED KHAN, Professor (Adjunct) CUTM/Associate Professor (Adjunct) – Curtin University

ORGANISING COMMITTEE

DR MOHAMMAD SWAPAN

DR ATIQ ZAMAN

PROFESSOR (ADJUNCT) SHAHED KHAN

PROFESSOR SMITA MISHRA PANDA

DR ALESSANDRO SANCHES PEREIRA

Organising Committee

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

HURSH RAMCHARITUR

BRUNA OLIVIERA

MD. ASHIKUZZAMAN

CONFERENCE CO-HOSTS

The second international GSN conference is co-hosted by Curtin University, Australia, and Centurion University, India.

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CURTIN UNIVERSITY

Australia

Curtin University is a future oriented, innovative, and global university known for its engagement with industry and community, high-impact research, and commitment to reconciliation. We are ranked in the top one percent of the universities worldwide according to ARWU (2021) and are counted among the top 200 universities according to the QS World University Rankings 2022.
The School of DBE focuses on sustainable design and built environment and the ways in which they improve the quality of life, advance community wellbeing and enhance settlements of all sizes from rural villages to mega-cities. Through research, teaching and community engagement, the school is recognised as a global leader in fostering a sustainable, equitable and inclusive future. We strive to lead in action research, activity-based pedagogy and authentic learning.
Our practice-based cognate disciplines focused on impact including, Architecture; Construction Management; Design; Geography; Interior Architecture; Project Management; and Urban and Regional Planning. The quality of our learning and student experience, our creative response to emerging pedagogical and technological changes and our focus on innovative solutions ensure that we are sought out as the leading provider of design and built environment education and research.
Our emphasis on collaborative partnerships and engagement with industry, government and our local communities will ensure that our research and teaching is recognised as salient, contemporary and of the highest quality. Building on both our disciplinary strengths and cross-disciplinary collaboration we are sought after as a partner of choice both globally and locally.

CENTURION UNIVERSITY

India

Centurion University is duly recognized as a pioneer is ‘Skill Integrated Higher Education”. Its unique model lays specific emphasis on creating sustainable livelihoods on a national scale in challenging geographies through education that results in employability and sparks entrepreneurship. This model has been recognized by multiple Governments (Central and State), International Organizations such as UNESCO and the World Bank as well as Policy Think-tanks such as the Niti Ayog. Recently, Centurion University’s School of Vocational Education and Training has been recognized as a Center of Excellence by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. It is the only University in India to be recognized as such.
We have continually strived to be a best in class human resource development hub that builds employable, enterprising and society centric youth through industry relevant education, skill development, new ventures, production, and technology development.The founders, faculty and staff are fully committed to its credo: Shaping Lives. Empowering Communities. This credo is underpinned by a value system of Inclusivity, Integrity, Equity, Respect and Sustainability in everything we do.
Since its inception in 2005 and subsequent establishment as a University in 2010 (vide Odisha Act 4 of 2010), Centurion has created a unique environment that ensures a tailored learning and employability path for youth in some of the poorest and underserved geographies in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
Centurion has embraced the Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since being formally announced in 2015. SDGs have been both formally and informally used as a guiding framework and are now firmly embedded in the Centurion DNA. Whilst having an indirect impact and contribution on almost all 17 SDGs, Centurion has specifically focused on 9 SDGs and embedded it in everything from its strategy, governance, institutional management and outcomes.

Conference Co-Hosts
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