The TryfactaEDU Global Foundation is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a new Regional Programme Office (RPO) of the BRIDGES Global Coalition. As announced by the BRIDGES Directorate on 14 July 2026, the RPO, located in GIFT City, Gujarat, India, will have geographical responsibility for South Asia. 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 and a major step in the development of the Foundation’s activities.
The announcement by the BRIDGES Directorate emphasizes that the establishment of the RPO 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 – a component of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations programme – 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
It is a privilege and an exciting challenge for the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation to host this new RPO. As a non-profit organisation dedicated to expanding access to education and research, our mission aligns with the BRIDGES Coalition’s approach to sustainability, emphasizing:
- 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.
An Innovative Partnership for Knowledge Exchange and Programme Development
Collaboration around the newly established RPO between the TryfactaEDU Global Foundation, the BRIDGES Directorate, and the UK-based International Programme Office, 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 organizations 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. The inception process will be led by the Interim Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors, Dr. John Crowley, working closely with the Interim Chair of the Foundation Supervisory Board, Mr. Atul Gupta.
