Urban Management and Development (M.Sc.)

This master track focuses on how digital innovation and transformation impact urban socio-economic development and governance.

Digital technology has disrupted urban development and profoundly reshaped the way cities operate. From using big data to managing traffic flows to the Internet of Things (IoT) applications used to manage energy consumption in public places, urban spaces are becoming increasingly digitized. Such digital transformations and innovation drive socio-economic change and impact city governance. In this programme, you will learn about the economics and governance of urban digital transformations and innovation.

This master track will focus on understanding, applying, and evaluating how the right to land, housing and urban services can be achieved.

In a world with ample resources, knowledge, and skills, inequalities are growing worldwide. This manifests itself in economic inequality, social inequality, gender inequality, and housing inequality. Adequate housing is a basic need, a right, and not a privilege.

Land and shelter remain unmet basic needs for many, with growing global land inequality fuelling housing disparities and limited access to services. Unequal land access underlies pressing societal issues, including housing injustice. The challenge of adequate housing persists globally, as vulnerable groups face displacement and limited infrastructure, while non-profitable land uses like affordable housing are marginalized. Due to ongoing commodification, this exclusivity affects global urban access to land, housing, and services. Addressing housing and land justice aligns with shared societal goals outlined in the New Urban Agenda (NUA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, the master track will focus on understanding, applying, and evaluating how the right to land, housing and urban services can be achieved.

This programme critically examines the theory, recent trends, and developments related to urban climate change adaptation and their links to sustainable atmosphere, land, and water management.

Climate-neutral and resilient cities are essential prerequisites for tackling the growing threat and impacts of climate change. True climate resilience requires systemic, nexus thinking around the key natural resources of land, water, and the atmosphere.

The Urban Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change: Integrated Management of Land, Water and Atmosphere programme is a master track will examine different conceptual, theoretical, and practical approaches to leading sustainable urban transformation and managing climate-neutral and resilient cities worldwide. It equips students with the knowledge and skills to critically evaluate and pursue urban resilience about the universal challenge of sustainable development and the reality of climate change. Next to environmental resilience and climate mitigation, the programme's primary focus, the track will examine critical social, economic and governance dimensions of climate-neutral and resilient cities.

Besides developing management and governance expertise, the track allows students to gain skills in geographical information systems (GIS), computer-based analysis tools and strategic planning methodology.