Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and Resilience in a time of Global Pandemics from edX

Unprecedented circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic have presented huge challenges to a third of the global urban population living in slums around the world. The e-learning course “Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and Resilience in a time of Global Pandemics” aims at supporting policy makers and urban practitioners to better respond to the challenge of slums, especially in a time of global pandemics. The course focuses on the conceptual and operational aspects of designing, implementing and sustaining a slum upgrading intervention, while underscoring the main policy and programmatic approaches at city level for scaling up upgrading and better planning for future growth.

What you'll learn

Specifically, at the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Understand urban slums, their underlying social, economic, and spatial characteristic, how they emerge and consolidate, and their impacts to local communities and the city as a whole
Analyze evolution of policy approaches to addressing urban slums under different contexts, what worked, what did not work, and why
Review and apply key operational principles and instruments for designing an upgrading intervention, including planning, finance, infrastructure, land tenure, housing, social inclusion, and sustainability.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand urban slums, their underlying social, economic, and spatial characteristic, how they emerge and consolidate, and their impacts to local communities and the city as a whole
Analyze evolution of policy approaches to addressing urban slums under different contexts, what worked, what did not work, and why

Review and apply key operational principles and instruments for designing an upgrading intervention, including planning, finance, infrastructure, land tenure, housing, social inclusion, and sustainability.

Understand urban slums, their underlying social, economic, and spatial characteristic, how they emerge and consolidate, and their impacts to local communities and the city as a whole
Analyze evolution of policy approaches to addressing urban slums under different contexts, what worked, what did not work, and why
Review and apply key operational principles and instruments for designing an upgrading intervention, including planning, finance, infrastructure, land tenure, housing, social inclusion, and sustainability.

Syllabus

Week 1: The Case for Upgrading __

How to articulate urban policies, institutional reforms, and spatially targeted interventions to better address existing and future slums.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Learn about how to best address the challenges of urban slums, which has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Understand the key principles for designing and implementing urban upgrading interventions

Gain insights into how to improve land tenure in informal settlements

Learn how to design infrastructure improvement interventions in informal areas

Get the knowledge to address shelter needs in informal areas

Understand how to involve local communities in upgrading projects

Reviews summary

Urban upgrading in a pandemic era

According to learners, "Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and Resilience in a time of Global Pandemics" is a highly relevant and comprehensive course that provides a solid foundation in addressing complex urban challenges. Students particularly value the timely focus on pandemics and the invaluable insights from World Bank experts. The course is praised for its well-structured modules and the provision of practical tools and strategies applicable to urban planning and policy. While generally lauded, some learners noted the academic and text-heavy delivery, suggesting a desire for more interactive elements and contemporary case studies. Overall, it's considered a must-take for professionals in urban policy and development, offering a deep dive into crucial topics.

Features valuable knowledge from World Bank experts for practical application.

"The insights from the World Bank experts are invaluable."

"The instructors clearly know their subject."

"I gained practical tools and strategies that I can immediately apply in my work in municipal planning."

"The insights are truly from global experts."

Provides a deep and broad understanding of urban upgrading principles.

"The content is comprehensive and provides a solid foundation for understanding urban upgrading challenges."

"Excellent course! The detailed breakdown of slum characteristics and policy approaches... was very informative."

"The course material is robust and the relevance of the pandemic angle is undeniable."

"It covers a wide array of topics crucial for urban upgrading."

Addresses critical contemporary urban challenges, especially global pandemics.

"An incredibly timely and relevant course, especially the focus on pandemics."

"The COVID-19 specific module was a thoughtful addition, showing the course's relevance."

"The connection to global pandemics is very topical and well-integrated. I highly recommend it."

"I particularly appreciated Week 9 on managing health outbreaks; it's a critical addition."

Reviewers desire more practical and recent case studies.

"I wish there were more practical case studies."

"The course could benefit from more recent case studies."

"I was looking for more hands-on examples for implementation."

Course relies heavily on theoretical content and readings, less interactive.

"I found the delivery very academic and less engaging than I hoped. It's heavily reliant on readings."

"The presentation felt a bit dry. It's very text-heavy with many policy documents to read."

"For an online course, I expected more varied media like videos or interactive simulations."

"Some lectures felt a bit dense, and I would have liked more interactive elements beyond the readings."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and Resilience in a time of Global Pandemics with these activities:

Review vocabulary related to urban planning and development

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Reviewing key vocabulary will provide a stronger foundation for understanding the concepts covered in this course.

Browse courses on Urban Planning

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Create flashcards or a glossary of key terms.
Test your understanding by taking practice quizzes or completing exercises.

Refresher: Conceptualize Sustainable Development Goals

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Complete this activity to improve upon already studied concepts of Sustainable Development Goals that will be relevant in this course.

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Review basic definitions of Sustainable Development
Review Sustainable Development Goals and Targets
Apply knowledge and write out the 17 SDGs

Review Principles of Sustainable Development

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Strengthen your understanding of sustainability principles to ensure that your slum upgrading interventions align with long-term environmental and social well-being.

Browse courses on Sustainability

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Read articles and books on sustainable development
Review case studies of sustainable urban projects
Attend a workshop or lecture on sustainability

Seven other activities

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Brush Up on Spatial Planning

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Reinforce your existing spatial planning knowledge to strengthen your foundation for this course.

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Review principles of urban and regional planning
Familiarize yourself with spatial analysis techniques

Explore Best Practices for Housing Improvements

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Engage with online tutorials to gain practical insights and techniques for improving housing conditions in informal settlements.

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Identify online tutorials on housing improvements
Follow the tutorials, taking notes on best practices
Apply the techniques learned to design or construct housing improvements

Compile a Resource List on Slum Upgrading

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Contribute to the body of knowledge by compiling a comprehensive list of resources related to slum upgrading, making it easier for others to access relevant information.

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Identify and gather resources on slum upgrading
Organize the resources into a coherent and accessible format
Publish the resource list and share it with relevant stakeholders

Implement a Slum Upgrading Plan

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Execute the principles and techniques covered in the course by implementing a comprehensive slum upgrading plan for a real-world community, allowing you to apply your knowledge in a practical setting.

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Identify a slum community and assess its needs
Develop a detailed upgrading plan, including infrastructure improvements, housing solutions, and community engagement strategies
Secure funding and partnerships for the project
Implement the plan in phases, monitoring progress and making adjustments as necessary
Evaluate the impact of the upgrading intervention and make recommendations for future projects

Identify a Slum Upgrading Project

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Kickstart your understanding of slum upgrading by identifying a local project to observe and analyze.

Browse courses on Slum Upgrading

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Research and identify potential projects
Conduct a site visit
Interview local stakeholders

Create a Blog Post on Urban Upgrading

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Share your knowledge and perspectives on urban upgrading by writing a blog post, helping to raise awareness and promote discussion on this critical issue.

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Choose a specific topic related to urban upgrading
Research and gather evidence to support your views
Write a compelling and informative blog post
Publish your blog post and promote it through social media

Develop a Land Tenure Security Plan

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Apply your knowledge by crafting a comprehensive plan to improve land tenure security in informal settlements.

Browse courses on Land Rights

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Assess the current land tenure situation
Identify legal and policy frameworks
Develop strategies for tenure regularization

Career center

Learners who complete Urban Upgrading for Inclusion, Sustainability and Resilience in a time of Global Pandemics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Urban Planner

As an Urban Planner, you are responsible for developing plans for urban areas, including the layout of streets, buildings, parks, and other infrastructure. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Social Worker

As a Social Worker, you provide support to individuals and families who are facing challenges, such as poverty, homelessness, and mental illness. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the social and economic factors that contribute to the development of urban slums.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

City Manager

As a City Manager, you are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a city, including the provision of public services and infrastructure. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for City Manager

Community Organizer

As a Community Organizer, you work with community members to identify and address issues that are important to them. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the social and economic factors that contribute to the development of urban slums.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Environmental Engineer

As an Environmental Engineer, you design and implement solutions to environmental problems, such as pollution and climate change. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the environmental challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Public Health Nurse

As a Public Health Nurse, you provide health care and education to communities, including those living in urban slums. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the health challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nurse

Architect

As an Architect, you design and oversee the construction of buildings and other structures. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Policy Analyst

As a Policy Analyst, you research and analyze public policies, including those related to urban slums. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the policy challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Real Estate Developer

As a Real Estate Developer, you acquire, develop, and manage real estate properties. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Real Estate Developer

Construction Manager

As a Construction Manager, you oversee the construction of buildings and other structures. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Construction Manager

Economist

As an Economist, you study the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the economic challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Sociologist

As a Sociologist, you study human society and social behavior. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the social challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

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Geographer

As a Geographer, you study the physical and human geography of the Earth. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the spatial challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

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Demographer

As a Demographer, you study human populations, including their size, growth, and distribution. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the demographic challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

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Anthropologist

As an Anthropologist, you study human cultures and societies. This course may be useful to you as it provides an understanding of the cultural challenges faced by urban slums and how to address them through upgrading interventions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist