Socio-Economic Adaptation Alternatives for Mountain Societies over Space and Time (co-funded by Eurasia-Pacific Uninet, Austria, 2012-13)

The economic activities in the mountainous regions of less developed countries are quite different from those in the more developed countries. The societies living in the mountainous environments of less developed countries largely pursue subsistence agricultural activities which depend on the direct exploitation of natural resources. The recent global changes in the natural systems, primarily climate, on one side and economic systems, i.e. globalising economy, on the other side have made these self-subsistent mountain societies vulnerable to a range of environmental and socio-economic risks. Mountains are generally characterised by fragile environments wherein various components of nature are delicately balanced. Here, the societies require more of an alternative adaptive approach for re-adjusting the prevailing socio-economic systems to the changing environmental and economic situations for mitigating adverse effects of high magnitude rather than applying high level technological interventions to control them.

• Strengthening academic among the academic institutions of repute in Austria and South Asia. This requires understanding of the mutual potentials as well as development of capable human resources across various disciplines and professions. This project addresses academic and scientific issues highlighted by the partner institutions in South Asia.

• Organise a short intensive Faculty-Development Workshop in Nepal
  
• Disseminate the results through a Concluding Seminar organised in Nepal
  

• a workshop was organised from 16 to 20-01-2013 at the Central Department of Education, TU, Nepal
• 22 teachers, post-graduate students and professionals participated in the workshop
• all the participants completed individual practical projects and presented in the concluding seminar.