project seminar in applied urban research

Series of windows on a red building
The project seminar trains students in conducting applied urban research. Students are expected to work in small groups on a project or research question commissioned by and in interaction with a public or private organization as the main client (e.g., government administration, citizen association, consultancy firm, planning agency, NGO).

Group work revolves around a combination of desktop research and original empirical investigation, and should lead to output that responds in a professional manner to the brief of the client. The Project Seminar runs for the full first year of the MSc Urban Studies. Final output can be diverse and will depend on the skillset of each student group and the expectations of the client, but as a minimum should lead to a final presentation and written report. Additional and creative output is encouraged. Course evaluation will be based on the group process throughout the year, feedback from the client, and the final submitted output.

The course is shaped by an extensive network of past and present collaborators, including Bouwmeester Maître Architecte, BRAL, Centre de Rénovation Urbaine, Community Land Trust Brussels, German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Planning, Eurocities, Heroes for Zero, International Federation of Pedestrians, Pool is Cool, Sohonet, Stadsmakersfonds, Trans Europe Halles, CoBHa, POLIS, RBDH/BBRoW, and the Belgian Union of Sex Workers (UTSOPI).

teachers

spotlight on student work

Discover here some of the best group reports from last year!

Managing Co-Ownership in Community Land Trusts Guidebook / students: Sophie Bourdoncle, Flora Dirr, Valentina Donato and Aleksandra Kozyra / client: Community Land Trust Brussels (CLTB)

Soak it in! Adaptive Capacities of European Cities / students: Yannick Fischer, Friederike Kamm, Arturo Luciani and Aurore Neuray / client: German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Planning (DV)

Challenges & Prospects for Establishing Sex Work Spaces in Belgium after Decriminalisation / students: Caroline Heimel, Feiyu Wang, Liliana Paez Civico / client: Belgian Union of Sex Workers (UTSOPI)