Collaboration Between ITU and NCIST Bringing Innovative Approaches in Disaster and Emergency Management

The academic collaboration initiative launched by Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the North China Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) brings innovative approaches to disaster and emergency management.

On September 9, 2025, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal paid a visit to the North China Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST). During his meeting with NCIST Rector Prof. Ren Yunsheng, Prof. Dr. Mandal visited the university’s campus and laboratories.

In the discussions held by our Rector at NCIST—which is soon to become “the world’s first university dedicated to disaster and emergency management”—the following topics stood out in particular: “pre-disaster preparedness and risk reduction,” “AI-based early warning mechanisms,” “disaster simulations using digital twin technologies,” and “advanced technology-based education and implementation systems.”

Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal emphasized that climate change—one of the foremost global risks—and its associated factors have made preparedness and management of disasters and emergencies more critical than ever. He underlined their aim to develop interdisciplinary projects by combining Türkiye’s and ITU’s experience in this area with the innovative opportunities offered by international collaborations, technology, and science. Stating that the strategic bond established between ITU and NCIST goes beyond bringing together the academic competencies of the two universities in managing global disaster risks, Prof. Dr. Mandal expressed his belief that this collaboration will generate solutions with global impact by making lasting contributions to the academic and technological ecosystems of Türkiye and China.