Urban Environment and Climate Change Erasmus University Rotterdam

Overview

Climate-neutral and resilient cities are essential goalposts in the quest to tackle the growing threat and impacts of climate change. But this quest must be undertaken in the framework of sustainable development goals, which strive for the proper use and management of key natural resources that safeguard the planet in the first place. This track evaluates different policies, approaches, and instruments to achieve climate resilience, climate neutrality and environmental sustainability in urban areas worldwide.

The Urban Environment and Climate Change programme from  Erasmus University Rotterdam  evaluates different policies, approaches, and instruments to achieve climate resilience, climate neutrality and environmental sustainability in urban areas worldwide. Students get to chose from a number of modules to define their own learning trajectory and choose from topics such as Water and Urban Society, Nature-based Solutions, Urban Circular Economy and Climate Change Governance. 

Skills after graduation

IHS graduates are well-trained in strategic planning, policy development, governance, communication, negotiation, research, and spatial analysis.

After this programme, you will have a broader knowledge of urban issues, policies, and trends from local and international perspectives in various geographical and social contexts. 

You will be able to apply the learnt methodologies and techniques in your work, effectively planning and managing tasks. Having studied in the international IHS environment, you will be able to collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

More specifically, IHS graduates gain the skills to:

• Identify contemporary urban issues and trends in developing, developed and transition countries.

• Monitor and evaluate urban management policies in terms of actors, performance, and context.

• Manage stakeholders, negotiate effectively, and execute complex decision-making.

• Design strategies and actions based on problem analysis.

• Conduct academic, applied, and commissioned research across a spectrum of urban topics.

• Work in international teams across different sectors and disciplines.

• Demonstrate presentation, communication, and negotiation skills.

Career prospective

As urban areas expand at an alarming rate, so is the demand for urban professionals who can come up with solutions and innovations that will make a difference in a city. Once you have completed the programme, you will be able to work in various sectors ranging from city/town planner to urban project manager or urban development specialist.

IHS has a strong reputation with donor agencies and training centres worldwide. The lecturers work worldwide and have outstanding international experience, which creates the possibility to initiate links to programmes and projects in the countries and cities of the participants.