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University of the Philippines

Quezon City

Philippines

The base for the PASCAL Centre in Asia is the University of the Philippines (UP) within its School of Urban and Regional Planning. The centre has associate centres at Khulna University, Bangladesh, University of Duhok, Iraq and Kerala Institute of Local Administration, India. 

The University of the Philippines (UP)

The University of the Philippines (UP) is the country’s national university. This premier institution of higher learning was established in 1908 and is now a university system composed of eight (8) constituent universities spread throughout 17 campuses all over the archipelago.

A UP education seeks to produce graduates imbued with an abiding sense of responsibility to their people and nation, the skills and mindsets to improve human life, and a commitment to the freedom and welfare of all. Aside from mastery of knowledge in their specific disciplines, UP graduates must possess the breadth of mind, strength of character, and generosity of spirit, fostered by a firm grounding in both the arts and sciences and such specialist courses as their programs may require.

UP SURP

UP SURP (School of Urban and Regional Planning) is the Philippines’ premier academic institution for graduate education in the field of urban, regional, and environmental planning and related disciplines. Formerly known as the Institute of Planning and created by virtue of Republic Act 4341 in 1965, the School’s mandate is to strengthen the capability of national and local government agencies, as well as, private organizations, to find solutions to their development problems and improve human settlements and their environments through comprehensive integrated planning. Moreover, it is mandated to develop, hone, and make available a pool of capable professional urban and regional planners. UP SURP continues to uphold its four-fold mandate of quality graduate education, research, training, and extension services.

Directorate at UP 

Associate Centres, Associate Directors 

Centre Director: Mario R. Delos Reyes, UP SURP; & President & CEO, CeNS

Mario is a Professor and former Dean at the University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP SURP). He was recently appointed by the university as the Co-Director of the PASCAL Asia. He is currently the President & CEO of the Centre for Neighbourhood Studies (CeNS) Philippines, a research and technology organisation committed to the sustainable and resilient transformation of communities and neighbourhoods.

Prof Delos Reyes is the International Co-Investigator and In-Country Lead Investigator for the Philippines of the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy and Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (SHLC). He is the Principal Investigator of the project titled, Local Challenges, Global Imperatives: Cities at the Forefront to Achieve the Education 2030 Agenda implemented by SHLC and UNESCO International Institute Education Planning (IIEP). Both projects are funded by the UK Research and Innovation through the Global Challenges Research Fund.

His research interests and experiences include environmental and natural resources policy and planning, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction management, public-private partnership for the urban environment, coastal (both marine and freshwater) planning and management, and strategic environmental assessment.

Prof Delos Reyes was awarded the Scientist 3 under the UP Scientific Productivity System for CY 2021-2023 and received the Meritorious Public Service Award in the field of environmental governance both approved by the UP Board of Regents.

Shilpi Roy, Associate Director, Khulna University, Bangladesh

Dr Shilpi Roy an Associate Professor of Urban and Rural Planning Discipline at Khulna University, Bangladesh. Her research interests include planning policy and strategy, equity planning, urban regeneration, urban design and application of various tools for evaluation research.

Shilpi has recently been responsible for coordinating the research, capacity building, management and impact activities in Bangladesh for the Centre for Sustainable, Healthy Cities and Neighbourhoods, as well as investigating urban policies shaping urbanisation as well as planning and development practices concerning sustainable, healthy and learning cities and neighbourhoods in Bangladesh. She has also been exploring the neighbourhood factors, which have an effect on the economic, social and environmental sustainability of neighbourhoods in Khulna and Dhaka and consequence on residents’ health, wellbeing and education/learning experiences. 

Shilpi has previously worked for International NGOs such as Action Aid and Practical Action and city development authorities. Her important former works include preparation of a conceptual master plan for the regeneration of a commercial area and a business plan for sustainable sludge management services in a municipality. Her baseline studies and evaluation researches were in the area of improvement of primary health care, environmental health and livelihood opportunities for women and marginalised communities, safe cities for women and justice for children.

Kamal Ketuly, Associate Director: University of Duhok, Iraq

Kamal Ketuly is Professor of Medical Chemistry at College of Medicine, University of Duhok (UoD). In addition to his specialisation, he has conducted research work in various successful collaborative projects with the city of Duhok, with a focus on the development of university policies, especially on issues of health care, environmental pollution and landmines, gender equality and migration. As a result of these various initiatives stimulated by the Strengthening Urban Engagement of Universities in Asia and Africa (SUEUAA), there has developed the widening of collaboration between the university and the city of Duhok. There is continuing the work through Erasmus+ ICM programme between the UoD and the PASCAL Europe base at the University of Glasgow via staff and student exchanges.

Ajith Kaliyath, Associate Director: Kerala Institute of Local Administration, India

Dr. Ajith Kaliyath is Urban Chair Professor at the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). He is a Human Geographer and Urban and Regional Planner who holds a PhD in Land as a Critical Ecological Resource for Sustainable Cities from Queen’s University Belfast, UK. Considering the transferrable skills acquired by him during his PhD, Dr. Kaliyath had been awarded ‘Researcher Plus’ award by Queen’s University Belfast. He is a recipient of Chevening Scholarship and Overseas Research Scholarship from the Government of UK. He has 19 years of professional experience which include positions in State and Central Pollution Control Boards, Ministry of Environment and Forests, German International Cooperation(GIZ) and in the private sector.

Dr. Kaliyath had earlier served in the elected executive boards of Young Academics of Association of European Planning Schools Association and oikos International. He was the Indian Principal Investigator of UK-India Joint Network on Sustainable Cities coordinated by NIUA and University of Nottingham which secured the runner-up position in the Newton Prize 2017.

During the year 2016-17, Dr. Kaliyath was the Convener of the Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) Committee for International Cooperation which organised the International Conference on Future of Cities in July 2017. Since 2015, Dr. Kaliyath has been the Regional Studies Association’s Ambassadors for India and led the process of launching the RSA India Division in April 2017.

Prior to his present position he was Professor and Head of the Department within the School of Planning and Development, Sushant University, India.

Relevant Projects at the bases of the Asia Centre and Associated Centres

• Strengthening Urban Engagement of universities in Asia and Africa (2017-2019) – a completed project funded by British Academy supported through the Global Challenges Research Fund, and within which the University of Duhok was a partner.
• Centre for Sustainable Healthy, Learning Cities and Neighbourhoods (2017-2022) Large scale completed ESRC-funded centre (over £7m) within which the University of the Philippines and the University of Khulna were partners – this was funded by UK Research and Innovation through the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).