SGLK15009U Transitions in Urban Living: From Global to Local using the Municipality of Copenhagen as a Case

Volume 2015/2016
Content

This summer school is aimed at students who are interested in an inter-disciplinary, research-based and solution-oriented approach to the major challenges urban areas face as a result of increasing urban populations and thus increasing demands to urban environments.

Researchers across faculties at University of Copenhagen will provide the students with knowledge about four pre-defined major global challenges related to transition in urban living. The four challenges are:

  • Climate change and urbanisation: Combating inner-city heat islands
  • Developing blue-green urban environments: Access to and utilisation of such areas by different population groups (including different cultural backgrounds)
  • Aging urban populations: Accessing and utilising urban spaces
  • Urbanisation and Health: Making an inactive population active

 

With a take-off in the global context, the researchers will together with major actors like Municipality of Copenhagen, WHO and Ældresagen, and the private sector explore the four major challenges using the municipality of Copenhagen as a case.

The course will combine lectures in the mornings with solution-oriented project work in the afternoons, where the students based on the morning lectures will work in groups with a concrete urban challenge and related opportunities under one of the four topics listed above.

Learning Outcome

The objective of this course is to provide the student with the knowledge, skills and competences necessary to approach urban challenges with a global aspect. Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge on one out of the four major urban challenges; climate change and urbanisation, blue-green urban environments, ageing urban populations, and urbanisation and health.

 

Skills

  • Analyse the impact of demographic changes and urbanization on the urban environment.
  • Identify major health, environmental, and demographic challenges and opportunities in an urban setting.
  • Discuss how global challenges are connected to local challenges and how they impact a local urban transition.

 

Competences

  • Analyse the role of different urban actors and be able to work in partnerships with them on solving a concrete urban challenge.
  • Demonstrate a solution-oriented and inter-discipline approach to a specific urban challenge.
This course is aimed at master level students with interest in all aspects of health promotion, epidemiology, social medicine, urban planning, , urban sustainable development and the management of urban environments . Preferably, you have an academic background in and/or have experience with public health, global health, biology, geography, horticulture, environmental health, architecture, anthropology, and humanities with an interest in urban space, communication and intercultural studies.
The teaching and learning methods will differ according to the time of the day. The mornings will consist of lectures and discussions and the afternoons will be supervised case-based solution-oriented project work with a take-off in the morning lectures.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 6
  • Lectures
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 68
  • Project work
  • 40
  • Total
  • 138
Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Practical oral examination
Continouous assessment with final oral exam.
- During the summer school, the students will in groups work on a case-based project. To pass the summer school, the final project must be presented in front of a panel consisting of researchers from University of Copenhagen, a representative from the municipality of Copenhagen, and a representative from a NGO. The panel will decide if the students pass or fail
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
One internal examiner
Criteria for exam assesment

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge on one out of the four major urban challenges; climate change and urbanisation, blue-green urban environments, ageing urban populations, and urbanisation and health.

 

Skills

  • Analyse the impact of demographic changes and urbanization on the urban environment.
  • Identify major health, environmental, and demographic challenges and opportunities in an urban setting.
  • Discuss how global challenges are connected to local challenges and how they impact a local urban transition.

 

Competences

  • Analyse the role of different urban actors and be able to work in partnerships with them on solving a concrete urban challenge.
  • Demonstrate a solution-oriented and inter-discipline approach to a specific urban challenge.