Did you know that cities take up less than 3% of the earth’s land surface, but more than 50% of the world’s population live in them? And, cities generate more than 70% of the global emissions? Large cities and their hinterlands (jointly called metropolitan regions ) greatly contribute to global urbanization and sustainability challenges, yet are also key to resolving these same challenges.
If you are interested in the challenges of the 21st century metropolitan regions and how these can be solved from within the city and by its inhabitants, then this Sustainable Urban Development course is for you!
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Did you know that cities take up less than 3% of the earth’s land surface, but more than 50% of the world’s population live in them? And, cities generate more than 70% of the global emissions? Large cities and their hinterlands (jointly called metropolitan regions ) greatly contribute to global urbanization and sustainability challenges, yet are also key to resolving these same challenges.
If you are interested in the challenges of the 21st century metropolitan regions and how these can be solved from within the city and by its inhabitants, then this Sustainable Urban Development course is for you!
Did you know that cities take up less than 3% of the earth’s land surface, but more than 50% of the world’s population live in them? And, cities generate more than 70% of the global emissions? Large cities and their hinterlands (jointly called metropolitan regions ) greatly contribute to global urbanization and sustainability challenges, yet are also key to resolving these same challenges.
If you are interested in the challenges of the 21st century metropolitan regions and how these can be solved from within the city and by its inhabitants, then this Sustainable Urban Development course is for you!
There are no simple solutions to these grand challenges! Rather the challenges cities face today require a holistic, systemic and transdisciplinary approach that spans different fields of expertise and disciplines such as urban planning, urban design, urban engineering, systems analysis, policy making, social sciences and entrepreneurship.
This MOOC is all about this integration of different fields of knowledge within the metropolitan context. The course is set up in a unique matrix format that lets you pursue your line of interest along a specific metropolitan challenge or a specific theme.
Because we are all part of the challenges as well as the solutions, we encourage you to participate actively! You will have the opportunity to explore the living conditions in your own city and compare your living environment with that of the global community.
You will discover possible solutions for your city’s challenges and what it takes to implement these solutions. Your participation will also contribute to wider research into metropolitan regions as complex systems.
We invite you to take the first steps in understanding the principles that will be essential to transform metropolitan regions into just, prosperous and sustainable places to live in!
This course forms a part of the educational programme of the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions and is developed by Wageningen UR and TU Delft, two of the founding universities of AMS Institute.
What's inside
Learning objectives
- The most relevant challenges that metropolitan regions are facing
- How you can respond to these challenges
- Examples of sustainable, metropolitan interventions and solutions
- How to critically reflect on and engage in the sustainable cities debate
- Innovative solutions for your own urban living environment
- The most relevant challenges that metropolitan regions are facing
- How you can respond to these challenges
- Examples of sustainable, metropolitan interventions and solutions
- How to critically reflect on and engage in the sustainable cities debate
- Innovative solutions for your own urban living environment
Syllabus
Module 1:
Introduction
Module 2:
Urban Growth
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Syllabus
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Reviews summary
Sustainable urban development: informative course
Activities
Review system thinking
Show steps
Review existing knowledge of systems thinking to ensure a solid foundation for the course
Browse courses on
Systems Thinking
Show steps
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Revisit lecture notes or textbooks on systems thinking
-
Read journal articles or online resources to refresh understanding
-
Attend a workshop or online seminar on systems thinking
Read a review of metropolitan planning
Show steps
This activity will help refresh knowledge of metropolitan planning, which is essential for understanding the challenges and solutions discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Urban Design
Show steps
-
Find a recent review article on metropolitan planning.
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Read the article and take notes on key concepts.
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Summarize the main points of the article.
Write a blog post or article on a sustainability challenge in your own city
Show steps
This activity will encourage you to apply your understanding of sustainability challenges to your own city, fostering deeper engagement with the course material.
Show steps
-
Identify a specific sustainability challenge in your city.
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Research the challenge and its potential solutions.
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Write a blog post or article that presents your findings and suggests recommendations.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Complete practice quizzes on metropolitan challenges and solutions
Show steps
This activity will reinforce your understanding of key concepts by providing regular opportunities to test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
-
Find practice quizzes on metropolitan challenges and solutions.
-
Take the quizzes and review your answers.
Contribute to an open-source project related to sustainable urban development
Show steps
This activity will allow you to apply your skills practically and engage with a global community working on real-world challenges in sustainable urban development.
Show steps
-
Find an open-source project related to sustainable urban development.
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Review the project's documentation and code.
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Identify ways to contribute to the project.
Design a proposal for a sustainable urban intervention in your city
Show steps
This project will challenge you to translate your knowledge of sustainable urban development into a tangible plan, enhancing your problem-solving and implementation skills.
Show steps
-
Identify a specific sustainable urban intervention.
-
Research the intervention and its potential benefits.
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Develop a detailed proposal outlining the intervention's design, implementation plan, and impact assessment.
Mentor a younger student or volunteer in a program related to sustainable urban development
Show steps
This activity will not only benefit the mentee but also reinforce your understanding of sustainable urban development and develop your leadership skills.
Show steps
-
Identify a mentoring opportunity.
-
Reach out to the mentee and schedule regular meetings.
-
Provide guidance, support, and encouragement.
Review system thinking
Show steps
Review existing knowledge of systems thinking to ensure a solid foundation for the course
Browse courses on
Systems Thinking
Show steps
- Revisit lecture notes or textbooks on systems thinking
- Read journal articles or online resources to refresh understanding
- Attend a workshop or online seminar on systems thinking
Read a review of metropolitan planning
Show steps
This activity will help refresh knowledge of metropolitan planning, which is essential for understanding the challenges and solutions discussed in this course.
Browse courses on
Urban Design
Show steps
- Find a recent review article on metropolitan planning.
- Read the article and take notes on key concepts.
- Summarize the main points of the article.
Write a blog post or article on a sustainability challenge in your own city
Show steps
This activity will encourage you to apply your understanding of sustainability challenges to your own city, fostering deeper engagement with the course material.
Show steps
- Identify a specific sustainability challenge in your city.
- Research the challenge and its potential solutions.
- Write a blog post or article that presents your findings and suggests recommendations.
Complete practice quizzes on metropolitan challenges and solutions
Show steps
This activity will reinforce your understanding of key concepts by providing regular opportunities to test your knowledge and identify areas for improvement.
Show steps
- Find practice quizzes on metropolitan challenges and solutions.
- Take the quizzes and review your answers.
Contribute to an open-source project related to sustainable urban development
Show steps
This activity will allow you to apply your skills practically and engage with a global community working on real-world challenges in sustainable urban development.
Show steps
- Find an open-source project related to sustainable urban development.
- Review the project's documentation and code.
- Identify ways to contribute to the project.
Design a proposal for a sustainable urban intervention in your city
Show steps
This project will challenge you to translate your knowledge of sustainable urban development into a tangible plan, enhancing your problem-solving and implementation skills.
Show steps
- Identify a specific sustainable urban intervention.
- Research the intervention and its potential benefits.
- Develop a detailed proposal outlining the intervention's design, implementation plan, and impact assessment.
Mentor a younger student or volunteer in a program related to sustainable urban development
Show steps
This activity will not only benefit the mentee but also reinforce your understanding of sustainable urban development and develop your leadership skills.
Show steps
- Identify a mentoring opportunity.
- Reach out to the mentee and schedule regular meetings.
- Provide guidance, support, and encouragement.
Career center
Urban Economist
Environmental Engineer
Sustainability Consultant
Public Policy Analyst
Sustainability Manager
Urban Designer
Urban Sociologist
Urban Geographer
Urban Planner
Architect
Transportation Engineer
Landscape Architect
Water Resources Engineer
Energy Engineer
Real Estate Developer
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