The seminar examines how urban policy may foster the renewal of neighbourhoods. We will review what mechanisms are responsible for segregation, which challenges arise for policy from current economic and demographic change and what has been achieved by selected policy measures.
The main part of the course will comprise a two-day block seminar, during which current topics and methodical approaches in urban science and planning will be in the focus. We will discuss, in particular, what sorting mechanisms characterise urban housing markets and what scope there is for policy to overcome undesirable characteristics that may affect specific neighbourhoods. These may occur, for example, in the form of deprivation, a local economic downturn, population ageing, but also from displacement due to gentrification. Selected policy measures will be examined in the form of case studies, which will be prepared by participants and discussed during the two-day seminar. The practical relevance of the seminar topics will be demonstrated and reviewed further during a one-day excursion.
In the course, students will
- acquire enhanced knowledge about the practical relevance of urban research,
- become acquainted with empirical methods (data acquisition and analysis),
- prepare a text and presentation in individual or group work (about5 pages text and PowerPoint presentation),
- present a topic during the seminar,
- and defend their reasoning during a discussion. |
