CUNY CREST HIRES Director, Dr. Shakila Merchant represented the CREST Institute at the 34th International Institute of Safety and Security Management (IISSM) Global Conclave on Total Risk Prevention – Risk to Resilience in December 2024 held at New Delhi, India.
The overarching topics that were discussed during the conclave included climate change, disaster management, sustainability, security & safety, and women, children, and specially abled empowerment and skill development. During the conclave, Dr. Merchant served as a panelist on various sessions and showcased CUNY CREST’s research capabilities through her presentation.
While in India, Dr. Merchant was also invited to visit the Indian Public School in Dehradun headed by chairman Dr. Ravindra Kishore Sinha, in Dehradun. During her two-day visit to the school, Dr. Merchant shared about the CUNY CREST HIRES USA program and the learning & professional development opportunities it offers with the IPS high school student and academic community. Dr. Merchant met with the IPS leadership Mr. Dilip Kotia, Executive Chairman, Dr. Shuchita Gupta, Principal, IPS math and science faculty members, high school students, and management who expressed keen interest in HIRES USA – a college readiness program that has been in existence for the last decade and focuses on infusing space science engineering and technology through combination of classroom, place-based experiential learning and professional development training in the high school education system.
Mr. Chandrakanth Tyagi, computer science teacher who served as a US delegate’s nodal officer during this visit, provided Dr. Merchant a tour of the IPS campus and its world-class facilities and resources including math & science labs, organic food-based farms and dairy, and extracurricular activities, that are enjoyed by more than four hundred (400) students residing in the prestigious boarding school located in the beautiful foothills of the majestic Himalayas.
Following meaningful and in-depth discussions between CUNY CREST HIRES USA, IPS, and IISSM team, the IPS community were excited about CUNY HIRES and ways to implement this successful education and training model in the Indian school systems with IPS, Dehradun at the helm, as aligned with the mission of the school and India’s National Education Policy (NEP), 2024.
Commenting on her productive trip to India, Dr. Merchant said, “It was a great opportunity to meet with several world-renowned dignitaries at the 34th Global Conclave and engage in topics that are important on a global scale. The meeting of the minds certainly paved ways to collaborate and engage in various research and educational opportunities between academic and research entities both at CUNY USA and India.”
