Urban Studies: Planning and Living in Cities

About

In this program students will explore housing, planning and policy issues in European cities as well as consider how these apply in other regions of the world. With a focus on real urban contexts, the course will examine subjects such as neighbourhood development and regeneration, housing finance and policy, urban planning and sustainability, and the impact of household and demographic change. Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most vibrant and attractive cities, providing a fascinating laboratory for the exploration and examination of urban issues.

This programme includes lectures on the following topics:

City spaces and urban places
Urban development and redevelopment in a European context
Homes, housing and household issues
Neighbourhoods and neighbourhood development
Housing finance and policy
Non-profit housing associations
City living, social segregation and inequality

After engaging with expert faculty and guest lecturers in the morning, participants will go on relevant excursions such as neighbourhood tours throughout Amsterdam and other cities within the Netherlands to gain insight into different urban environments, putting theories learned in class in practice.

Course leader

Dr. Dominic Teodorescu is a postdoctoral fellow at the universities of Uppsala (Sweden) and at the University of Amsterdam. His ongoing research focuses on the housing exclusion of Roma and Traveller groups in the Netherlands. Within the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research (AISSR), he is a member of the working group on Political and Economic Geography. His interests further cover urban segregation, housing inequalities, spatial racialization, Europeanisation processes in eastern Europe, and anti-Roma racism. He is originally a graduate of the University of Amsterdam and holds a PhD in Social and Economic Geography, awarded by Uppsala University. Amber Howard is currently completing her joint PhD between the department of Health Policy at the University of Melbourne, and the department of Geography, Planning, and Int. Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam. Her research explores young adult’s changing housing arrangements over the 2000s in high-income countries, with a focus on socio-economic inequalities. Prior to commencing her PhD, Amber completed a master degree in Urban Planning at UvA and began her career in research for an architectural firm specialising in sustainable community development. Amber has taught in and co-coordinated master’s programmes in Urban Planning and Public Health at University of Melbourne.

Target group

Level: Advanced Bachelors and Masters and working professionals.

Background: Students should have a strong background in the arts and/or social sciences, with a particular focus on expanding their (existing) knowledge in urban studies. Working professionals with a foundation in this field who wish to continue their education are also welcome to apply.

Course aim

In this three-week programme, students will explore the fundamental issues that are shaping the development and evolution of cities in the 21st century. With a focus on real urban places, set in both contemporary and historical contexts, the course will examine subjects such as neighbourhood development and regeneration, housing finance and policy, city planning and sustainability, and the impact of household and demographic change on urban lives and spaces.

Fee info