This programme is in the process of development. The post-tsunami work of TISS in Andaman & Nicobar Islands provided several insights. A key concern for A&N administrators was the lack of critical research for policy decisions. Investments in higher education in Port Blair are limited, and locating a M.Sc. Programme which incorporates ecological and economic aspects of development for island economies would be in valuable in evolving appropriate management strategies for sustainable development. A course of this nature does not exist anywhere in India and this would be a unique initiative. Thus, the rationale for a M.Sc. programme in Island Ecology evolved out of the experience of the diploma and certificate programmes in Sustainable Development organised by the JTCDM in Port Blair between 2006-2007.

National institutes of excellence were contacted and detailed discussions were held with the idea of wider collaboration.
These were:
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi.
Indian Ocean – Census of Marine Life, National
Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun.
Institute of Ocean Management (IOM), Anna University, Chennai.
Centre for Ocean and Coastal Studies (COCS), University of Madras, Chennai.
Centre for Ecological Studies, Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry.
Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Bangalore.
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore. Andaman and Nicobar Environment Team (ANET), Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu.
Equations, Bangalore.
Greenpeace India.
Kalpavriksh, Pune.

As a unique course, this programme would allow the creation of a resource base of professionals equipped to design, implement and monitor island ecosystems. This would not only benefit the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, but also be of immense value for other island ecosystems, globally.

Two curriculum development workshops were envisaged – one in Port Blair and other in New Delhi. The first one was held on December 18, 2007 in collaboration with Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI). An appropriate academic program would focus on the theories and practices of sustainable island ecosystem management and seek to integrate these within the course work.