We are pleased to invite applications for the Training-of-Trainers Program on Transdisciplinary Approaches, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 7–10 September 2026.

This program aims to cultivate a new generation of trainers who can design and deliver context-responsive learning programs that advance transdisciplinary research and practice. Participants will develop the knowledge, skills, and facilitation capacities needed to support collaborative approaches that bridge science, policy, and society in addressing complex sustainability challenges. The program is organized through the GAIA (Gearing up and Applying Inter- and transdisciplinary skills in Asia) Project, led by a consortium of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) and Future Earth Asia, with support from the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). This initiative is also in collaboration with the Asia Science Mission.

The program combines conceptual grounding and applied learning to strengthen competencies in facilitation, training design, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative problem-solving. Beyond capacity-building, it seeks to foster a community of practice where participants serve as co-developers and amplifiers of transdisciplinary approaches within their institutions and networks.

Selected participants benefit from mentorship, certification, regional networking opportunities, and potential implementation support.

Tuition and meals are fully covered for all participants. While travel grants are available on a competitive basis for a limited number of attendees, self-funded applicants are also highly encouraged to apply. Due to limited capacity, a selection process will be enforced.

Interested applicants are invited to submit their applications through the online application form HERE.

As part of the application, applicants will be asked to prepare and upload the following:

• Completed online application form
• CV
• Endorsement or Support Letter from their head of institution (or equivalent)
• One-Page Training/Educational Course Proposal outlining how you would apply this training in your work/context. Applicants who demonstrate a clear intent to execute this training with secured institutional resources will be highly prioritised.“

Background and Rationale

Across Asia, sustainability challenges are increasingly complex, requiring approaches that move beyond single disciplines and engage diverse stakeholders in the co-creation of knowledge and solutions. Transdisciplinary approaches have gained growing recognition as essential for addressing these challenges, particularly in bridging science, policy, and society. However, despite this recognition, there remains a significant gap in structured and accessible transdisciplinary training across the region .

Early-career professionals and practitioners are often expected to engage in collaborative, mission-driven research, yet many are not adequately equipped with the competencies required to navigate complexity, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and translate knowledge into action . This gap is not only technical but also relational, involving the ability to work across disciplines, manage differing perspectives, and build trust in multi-actor environments.

In response, there is a clear need for capacity-building initiatives that are not only skills-oriented but also context-responsive, grounded in real-world challenges, and designed for scalability. A Training-of-Trainers model offers a strategic pathway to expand the reach of transdisciplinary capacity by enabling participants to design and deliver their own training programs within their institutions and networks.

This program is positioned to cultivate a new generation of trainers and facilitators who can embed transdisciplinary approaches into research, education, and practice. By strengthening both technical and facilitative competencies, and by fostering a regional community of practice, the initiative contributes to advancing mission-driven science and enabling more integrated, inclusive, and impactful responses to sustainability challenges in Asia. This project is collaborating closely with the Asia Science Mission.

Program Objectives

The Asia Regional Training-of-Trainers for Transdisciplinarity aims to:

1. Develop core transdisciplinary competencies
   Equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets needed for transdisciplinary practice, including systems thinking, stakeholder engagement, collaborative leadership, adaptive learning, and ethical and inclusive approaches
2. Strengthen training design and facilitation capacity
   Enable participants to design, facilitate, and deliver context-responsive transdisciplinary training programs that integrate experiential learning, case-based approaches, and real-world application
3. Expand regional capacity through a multiplier model
   Build a network of trainers who will implement and cascade transdisciplinary training within their respective institutions, countries, and communities, amplifying the reach and impact of the program
4. Ensure contextual and regional relevance
   Ground training design in region-specific sustainability challenges and local contexts to support more effective knowledge exchange and application across Asia
5. Foster a community of practice and institutional integration
   Support the development of sustained collaboration among participants and promote the integration of transdisciplinary approaches into organisational strategies, curricula, and research initiatives

Program Structure and Learning Approach

The program follows a Training-of-Trainers model, combining conceptual grounding with applied, practice-oriented learning.

• Interactive modules integrating lectures, case-based learning, and applied exercises
• Hands-on, experiential learning anchored in real-world contexts
• Iterative development of participant-led training proposals
• Peer learning and collaborative reflection
• Structured mentorship and expert guidance

The curriculum is organised around a knowing, doing, and being framework to support balanced development of knowledge, skills, and professional orientation.

Program Benefits

Participants will gain both conceptual grounding and practical skills to lead and implement transdisciplinary training programs. The program offers the following:

• Structured mentorship and expert guidance in developing a training program
• Certification recognising competencies in transdisciplinary practice
• Potential access to grants or funding support for implementation
• Exposure to regional and international networks of practitioners and experts
• Opportunities to translate outputs into publishable work or knowledge products
• Applied learning through case-based and experiential approaches

Tuition and meals are fully covered for all participants. While travel grants are available on a competitive basis for a limited number of attendees, self-funded applicants are also highly encouraged to apply. Due to limited capacity, a selection process will be enforced.

Participant Role and Engagement

This is a collaborative and contribution-driven program. Participants are expected to actively engage in all learning sessions and program activities.

• Actively engage in all sessions and program components
• Contribute their own experiences, contexts, and perspectives
• Co-develop training models and participate in peer learning
• Serve as catalysts within their institutions and networks

Participants are not only learners, but contributors to a growing community of practice that advances transdisciplinary approaches across the region.

Participant Profile and Eligibility

The program is intended for individuals who can serve as trainers, facilitators, or program developers within their institutions or networks.

• Applicants may come from academia and research institutions, government agencies, civil society, non-government organisations, or any practice-oriented and development organisations
• Ideal candidates demonstrate engagement with sustainability or complex societal challenges
• Interest or experience in training, facilitation, or capacity-building
• Institutional support for implementing training initiatives
• Commitment to collaborative and applied learning

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit the following:

Selection Process

Applications will undergo a structured review process based on the criteria outlined above. Selection will consider both individual capacity and the potential for participants to implement and cascade training initiatives within their contexts.

Program Information

• In-person training with potential hybrid components
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Four-day program, September 7–10, 2026

Application Timeline

• Application Deadline: June 25, 2026
• Notification of Results: Early July

Application Link

Submit your application here.

Contact Information

For inquiries, please contact: ria.lambino@futureearth.org

Closing Note

This program seeks to move beyond one-time training by supporting participants as co-developers, implementers, and amplifiers of transdisciplinary approaches. Through this initiative, participants contribute to building a regional ecosystem of practice that strengthens the role of transdisciplinary approaches in addressing complex sustainability challenges.