The Urban Policies Laboratory aims to provide students with multidisciplinary knowledge and skills for the study of cities and territories, addressing both theoretical and practical dimensions through lectures, readings, group exercises, and class discussions.
The Laboratory consists of four modules. The first module aims to provide students with the theoretical and conceptual tools needed to understand the notions of city and territory, as well as the main ongoing transformations.
The second module addresses the major contemporary urban challenges, including sustainability, housing, mobility and accessibility, culture, inequalities, urban regeneration, gentrification and touristification, and smart cities.
The third module aims to strengthen students’ skills in studying and analysing cities and territories by introducing the main qualitative and quantitative methodologies used in the social sciences and the main data sources available for urban research.
The fourth module provides an overview of the main urban policies and strategies implemented at local and metropolitan government levels, both nationally and internationally, in response to urban transformations and contemporary urban challenges.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Module 1

• Knowledge of the main theoretical paradigms and conceptualizations of the contemporary city.
• Knowledge of the main recent urban transformations.
• Basic knowledge of urban history.
• Understanding of the territorial and spatial dimensions of cities.

Module 2

• Ability to navigate and critically engage with the main ongoing thematic debates concerning cities and urban issues.

Module 3

• Knowledge of the main qualitative and quantitative methodologies used to understand cities and territorial phenomena, particularly from a social science perspective.
• Knowledge of and ability to use the main national, European, and international data sources related to the study of cities.

Module 4

• Knowledge of the main trends and multilevel strategies developed to address urban transformations and the principal challenges facing contemporary cities.

By the end of the Laboratory, students will be able to develop a critical approach to urban and territorial issues, understand and analyse complex academic and policy texts, and critically interpret and use the main data sources employed in urban research.