There is an increasing need for coherent strategies in urban development. But what does a strategy formation process look like in which specialists from different policy areas can work together on an equal footing and what skills do they need for this? In cooperation with the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability, Veldacademie has developed a training course that focuses on precisely this type of interdisciplinary collaboration in area development.
The training focuses on broad social themes in relation to 'physical' urban development. Think of themes such as loneliness, care, health, youth and education policy, employment and urban poverty. Addressing these themes in relation to spatial planning requires a multidisciplinary and integrated approach in which the knowledge and experience of city and policy makers from all domains counts.
Structure of the training
The training is built according to the method of design-based research. In small interdisciplinary groups, we work in an iterative process on well-founded integrated problem analysis, future visions and/or scenarios and (input for) strategies around a concrete assignment from the practice of the participants. In this way, an integrated process is created that enables the participants to tackle problems of high complexity together.
Learning from each other
Cooperation is essential to steer the development of the city in the desired direction. But it is also a great challenge, because everyone joins with different roles, experiences, work culture, methods or different use of terminology and language. It requires thinking space, tools and guidance to (learn to) understand each other and learn from each other. Therefore, the training places great emphasis on cooperation and learning from one other. The goal is to jointly analyse problems, opportunities and bottlenecks, formulate a shared vision, and translate this into concrete objectives and actions - linked to spatial development.
“The balance between working in practice and working with theory is organized very well. Really working together towards an end result. What we found out in such a short time surprised me.”
Who is it aimed at?
The course is aimed at professionals with diverse backgrounds who are involved in urban development, ubran planning, policy-making, work in area-based teams or work in the districts. The composition of the participants is carefully selected to reflect practice.
Relevance to practice
The focus of the training is on practical applicability in a work setting. We alternate a short introduction to the theory with workshops in which we apply various practice-oriented research and analytical methods. During the course, we discuss pre-agreed themes and work on a concrete area at different scales. Because we work on 'real' issues from the practice of the participants, this training has a lot of spin-offs. Participants get ideas and not infrequently new initiatives arise that are taken up after the training.
“The composition of the group really appealed to me. Most of the time when you work on a project you work with one specific group of people. Now it was much broader and you worked with people who have ‘different glasses,’ which is an enrichment for everyone.”
Given by
This course is taught by Ruth Höppner, architect, sociologist and co-founder of the Veldacademie and by Saskia Ruijsink, expert in strategic spatial planning and scientific coordinator of the Cities Hub, Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability. Depending on the subject, experts will be invited for reflection during the course.
Further development with engaged scientists
The training is continuously being developed on the basis of scientific knowledge and insights from practice. The municipality of Rotterdam will soon start a 'training of trainers' programme to increase the impact. Experiences from this training course will also be incorporated into education, so that 'experts in education also learn the added value of interdisciplinary cooperation during their studies.
If you are interested in this training, please contact Carina van der Beek
“Thinking interdisciplinary in this way about area problems is interesting. How can you use this in everyday practice? I would like to explore how you can create such a climate.”