290106 SE Masterseminar aus Humangeographie: Sustainable Urban Development and Digitalisation (2021S)

Sustainable urban development in Europe is among others framed by the Agenda 2030 with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the New Leipzig Charta. At the same time, technological change, often described as digitalization, plays an increasing role in cities’ development pathways with an enormous potential related to optimization, access to services etc. Here, questions arise how the technological/digital change can actively be shaped to serve as a lever towards sustainable urban development, considering the economic, social and ecological effects involved.

In this context, the seminar takes a closer look at the way technologies and digitalization are implemented in European cities, and how this supports and/or contradicts with sustainable urban development. The aim is to critically evaluate city-wide approaches and/or specific projects European cities have implemented. These approaches/ projects will be selected by the students and serve as case studies. The evaluation will be based on a jointly developed assessment system. Reflection and analysis evolve around the SDGs, COVID-19 recovery and the European Green Deal. The case studies will play an essential role during the whole seminar.

Note: The seminar will be held in English and will take place in digital or hybrid form:
a) Online events on a weekly basis with changing inputs, discussion forums and moderation,
b) Face-to-face events in small groups when the COVID-19 situation allows it – if not, group work will also take place online (collaborate)