Coordination of Urban Issues
About the research group
Metropolitan issues are often complex by nature and usually require a combination of engagement and cooperation, regardless of whether they touch on spatial, social or sustainability challenges. Engagement and cooperation, however, cannot be taken for granted. Our research group explores how residents, government agencies, businesses and other stakeholders can co-create urban environments, as well as providing support through one of our hands-on approaches. Together with our partners, we help create engaged cities.
Our approach
We believe that the first step in solving metropolitan issues is to aggregate stakeholder knowledge by linking residents, users, professionals and researchers. Our approach revolves around both developing and deploying new solutions together, so that they become part of shared practices. We focus on both individual and collective challenges, such as the skills and knowledge of professionals and residents, but also relationships, cultures and systems within public and semi-public organisations or networks in the city. Learning to change together is our core focus. We participate in several projects funded by national and European research grants and also work on commissioned research.
Research topics
We focus on three types of issues:
1. Area-based issues: how urban spaces can be improved for and with residents and users
2. Democratic issues: how resident and user engagement with the city can be reinforced
3. Sustainability issues: how residents and users can play a greater role in the transition to a sustainable city
Education
The work of the research group is closely linked to teaching in e.g.
- the Master of Urban Management
- the Bachelor of Public Administration
Partners
Municipalities, housing associations, companies, civil society organisations, other knowledge institutions. We also work closely with the AUAS Centres of Expertise Just City and City Net Zero.