Global Urban Futures
| Module title | Global Urban Futures |
|---|---|
| Module code | GEO2132 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Alicia Hayashi Lazzarini (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 150 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces interdisciplinary social science approaches to understanding urbanisation processes. It considers the significance of urbanisation for a range of contemporary geographical issues, from socio-economic inequality to environmental change; and the responses to those issues, from activism to policy-making. It provides a framework for understanding and critically analysing claims about and consequences of “planetary urbanisation”. The module introduces you to key traditions of urban social thought such as explanatory theories of urban development, interpretative theories of urban social and cultural life, and action-oriented theories of urban politics, planning, and policy. It addresses key methodological issues concerning contextual understanding, comparative analysis, and case-study analysis. It also addresses traditional and new urban issues such as Global South urbanism; investment and development futures; cities and infrastructures; eco-cities and enclaves; informal cities; and urban social movements.
The module assessment is designed to enable you to select and develop a focussed engagement with specific approaches and issues of interest to you.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to give you a thorough understanding of contemporary social science approaches to urban issues. The module will
- introduce various theoretical traditions for understanding cities and urban processes
- introduce issues of geographical reasoning associated with urban social science
- introduce issues that are traditionally or newly understood as having urban causes, conditions, or resolutions
- provide a framework for engaging critically with contemporary urban issues by selecting and applying specific analytical approaches
- provide a framework for critically analysing why urban processes are often seen as both the cause and solution to so many issues.
The module involves in-depth workshops and class debates that seek to develop the following graduate attributes:
- confidence in assessing the robustness of social scientific evidence and in presenting textual and audio-visual material in a new media format
- problem solving through interdisciplinary reasoning and analysis of issues-based urban case studies and urban policies at different scales
- articulating social scientific concepts and evidence with confidence through enquiry-led research on assessed written assignment topics; including providing peer feedback on topics through discussion
The teaching contributions on this module involve elements of research undertaken by module staff, such as work on urban social theory, cities in the Global South, urban infrastructures, and informality.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Explain the problematisation of contemporary urban issues
- 2. Apply theoretical ideas to the analysis of selected urban issues
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Illustrate and discuss the contested and provisional nature of knowledge
- 4. Identify a range of approaches to the generation, analysis, and application of knowledge
- 5. Identify and investigate selected issues in human geography research
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Develop a sustained and reasoned argument
- 7. Identify, acquire, analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources
- 8. Work independently to achieve consistent, proficient and sustained attainment
- 9. Work as a participant and leader in groups and contribute effectively to the achievement of objectives
Syllabus plan
Indicative structure (topics may vary)
Part 1: Social Theory in the City
- Introduction: urbanisation, urbanism and public space
- Key themes in urban futures research
- Urban public space
Part 2: Emergent Urban Issues
- Eco-cities, smart cities and urban AI
- Investment and development futures, and formative research poster workshop
- The divided city
- Informal cities and alternative urban futures
Part 3: Wrapping up: Putting Urban Futures into Context
- Urban futures: learning from QQ
- Urban futures and city politics and formative assessment workshop: essay preparation
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 16 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 6 | Workshops |
| Guided Independent Study | 15 | Out-of-class web-based exercises |
| Guided Independent Study | 45 | Weekly reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 38 | Blog preparation and writing |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Exam preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion and draft research poster | 1 hour workshop equivalent | 1-7, 9 | Oral and written |
| Discussion and draft written assignment structure | 1 hour workshop equivalent | 1-9 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research poster | 30 | 750 words | 1-7 | Written |
| Written assignment | 70 | 1750 words | 1-7 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Poster | Research Poster | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written assignment | Written assignment | 1-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Bridge, G. and Watson, S. (eds.). 2010. The Blackwell City Reader (2nd Edition).
- LeGates, R. and Stout, F. (eds). 2011. The City Reader. Routledge.
- Tonkiss, F. 2013. Cities by Design: The Social Life of Urban Form. Polity Press.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- ELE page
- Foresight UK: Future of Cities: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/future-of-cities
- Un-Habitat: Urban Lectures: http://unhabitat.org/urban-knowledge/urban-lectures/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 21/02/2017 |
| Last revision date | 07/03/2024 |
