OCW at CEPT

Centre of Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad 

CEPT University takes its name from the ‘Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology’ (CEPT).  CEPT and the various schools that it comprised were established by the Ahmedabad Education Society with the support of the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India.  The Government of Gujarat incorporated CEPT as a university in 2005. CEPT University focuses on understanding, designing, planning, constructing and managing human habitats. The University comprises five faculties.  The Faculty of Architecture was established as the ‘School of Architecture’ in 1962.  It focuses on design in the private realm.  The Faculty of Planning, focused on planning in the public realm, was established in 1972 as the ‘School of Planning’.

Centre for Urban Equity (CUE) was established at CEPT University with a vision of advocating for a human-centered urban development paradigm based on the notion of equity. The idea of equity emphasizes the active participation of stakeholders in decision-making for the equitable distribution of capital, goods, housing and services. An approach emphasizing urban equity is also essential in India since it has a large number of internal inequalities emanating from history, culture and society superimposed on a capital-driven economic growth model. CUE undertakes research and advocacy; conducts training and capacity-building; and networks with stakeholders on various aspects of human settlements with a central focus on the concept of urban equity. The Centre also collaborates with scholars and practitioners on various projects. CUE’s research has focused mainly on housing of and for the urban poor, the informal urban economy and sustainable urban transport.

Presently, CUE has a full-time staff of one senior researcher-cum-coordinator of the Centre, six Research Associates and one Research Assistant. Several professors from CEPT’s Faculty of Planning and Faculty of Architecture have undertaken research through CUE over the years, and are thus affiliated to it as Project Coordinators