Facts and figures
The programme at a glancePart of School
Programme information
What to expectAbout the programme
The programme Creating Resilient Cities focuses on developing an applicable solution for a resiliency related challenge in an urban context. During the programme you will acquire knowledge with respect to resilience theories and strategies, use this knowledge to determine your own position towards resilience and to make the connection with your own professional background. You will use your personal position towards resilience and your professional view to contribute to a resiliency related project by comparing Rotterdam with a city abroad and by working in a multidisciplinary and international project team. A fieldtrip to this city abroad is included in the programme and a mandatory part of it. Multiple courses support in acquiring the knowledge and skills to come up with a applicable and relevant project result:
- Resilience Theory 1 and 2 is focused on acquiring and applying resilience theories and strategies;
- Working in a multi-perspective context supports the process of collaboration in diverse teams;
- Facilitating Change encourages you to use learning as a strategy to steer your own professional development within the complex context of resilience and to co-create knowledge about resilience with a broader audience.
Methods
During this programme you learn to contribute to making cities more resilient by developing an applicable solution through comparative applied research in an international and multidisciplinary team. Several modules support you developing the necessary knowledge and skills.
Creating Resilient Cities Project 1 & 2 (5 + 10 ECTS)
The research projects are at the heart of this programme. They invite you to develop an applicable solution to a resilience related challenge through comparative applied research, fieldwork in Rotterdam and a pressure cooker in the partner city abroad. The first project (CRC51 / 5 ECTS) is largely theoretical and allows you to do to in-depth comparative research into a resilience aspect. The second project (CRC52 / 10 ECTS) will test your skills as a problem-solver, here you will focus on a specific resilience issue and attempt to come up with the ideal solution while making sure all relevant stakeholders are on board with your innovative design.
Resilience Theory 1 & 2 (3 + 5 ECTS)
The first part of Resilience Theory (3 ECTS) introduces you to a diversity of resilience theories and strategies through lecturers, guest lectures, excursions debates and literature study. You are challenged to determine your own position within the different theoretical debates and choose direction for your own research project. The second part of Resilience Theory (5 ECTS) challenges and supports you in constantly connecting resilience theories to your research project through discussions and peer review sessions.
Working in a multi-perspective context (3 ECTS)
The research project is done in international and multidisciplinary teams. This module encourages you in using diversity within your team to increase the quality and applicability of the solution through lectures on individual, cultural and organisational differences, role plays, peer review sessions and coaching.
Facilitating Change (4 ECTS)
Creating Resilient Cities invites you to go beyond business-as-usual approaches but think out-of-the-box and come up with innovative solutions. As solutions are not yet at hand, learning is key to the process of finding solutions for resiliency related challenges. During this module you will develop your capacity to use learning as a strategy for problem solving by setting the agenda for your own professional development, working on your personal learning goals and organising knowledge exchange events.
Type of assessments
- Presentations
- Reports
- Papers
- Oral assessment
Learning outcomes
If you have successfully completed this exchange programme then you are able to:
- Contribute to a complex resilience challenge from the perspective of your own profession and
- Apply multiple resilience theories and strategies;
- Use critical thinking and creativity while doing applied research;
- Design a solution through multidisciplinary and international collaboration;
- Steer your own learning process;
- Share results through joint learning and co-creation.
Calendar
Awarding
After completing your exchange programme at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, you will receive a:
- Transcript of records
Subjects
An indication of the subjects you can expectBlock 1 and 2
-
Resilience theory 1 (3 ECTS)
Resilience theory 1 (3 ECTS)
Topics
An introduction to a diversity of resilience theories and strategies: the Resilience Framework of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Resilience Strategy of the Municipality of Rotterdam and multiple scientific articles related to resilience in urban contexts.
Learning Material
Relevant articles and policy documents such as the Resilience Strategy of the Municipality of Rotterdam will made available on online learning environments of the programme. Check the added tab for examples of literature.
Learning outcomes
- Active participation in a debate about resilience using acquired knowledge and understanding of resilience for making substantiated contributions.
- A written substantiated position towards resilience by means of an individual position paper
-
Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 (5 ECTS)
Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 (5 ECTS)
Topics
The research project runs through the semester and is the heart of this programme. It invites you to develop an applicable solution for a resilience related challenge through comparative applied research, fieldwork in Rotterdam and a pressure cooker in the partner city abroad. The module Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 is focused on understanding the project assignment and preparing the research:
- Introduction to theories related to the content of the project assignment, e.g. climate change, urban heat, social housing or smart cities.
- Specialist lecturers will introduce general theories related to the assignment
- Students will study the project assignment and the general theories from the perspective of their own disciplinary (professional) background
- Introduction to the theory and methodology of applied and comparative design research: from project assignment to research proposal
Learning materials
- Scientific and professional literature related to the content of the project assignment is provided to students through the electronic learning environment of the programme
- Scientific and professional literature about the content of the project assignment from the perspective of their own profession will be retrieved by the students themselves
- Literature on the theory and methodology of comparative applied design research will be made available to students through the electronic learning environment of the programme, e.g.
- Mills, M., Van de Bunt, G.G. & De bruijn, J. (2006). Comparative Research. Persistent Problems and Promising Solutions. International Sociology, 21(5):619-631
- Yin, R.K. (2003). Case study research. Design and Methods. Third Edition. Thousand Oaks/London/New Dehli: Sage Publications
Learning outcomes
- An individual conceptual model with which the student visualizes (their understanding of) the project assignment from their own discipline (profession);
- A multidisciplinary research proposal (team effort) for solving the project assignment through comparative applied design research.
-
Working in a multiperspective context (3 ECTS)
Working in a multiperspective context (3 ECTS)
Topics
An introduction to the theory and practice of cultural diversity, multidisciplinarity and bridging differences:
- National and organisational culture
- Bridging differences in diverse teams
- Differences in styles in working and learning
Learning materials
- Book chapters from Intercultural Sensitivity from Nunez, Nunez Mahdi & Popma (2017).
- Articles about boundary crossing theory e.g. Oonk,Gulikers & Mulder (2019)
Articles and book chapters will be made available to students on the electronic learning environment of the programme.
Learning outcomes
- Insight in personal preferences as it comes to the role within a team
- An individual and team plan of action on how to use diversity within the team to develop a solution that addresses the multidisciplinary and cultural complexity of the project.
- An individual (oral) critical reflection on the students own performance within the team and contribution to the solution; this reflection includes insight in disovered personal strong points, blind spots and lessons learned.
-
Facilitating change (4 ECTS)
Facilitating change (4 ECTS)
Topics
Interactive, workshop based module in order to strenghten students in self-steering their own learning process and apply learning-based approaches to facilitate knowledge sharing events and meet-ups. The agenda of the meetings (and the module) is set by the students and related to the content of their project or their own learning questions.
Learning materials
- Articles and documents used during the other modules
- Articles and documents retrieved by the students themselve
Learning outcomes
- A learning plan with personal goals for professional development, a plan to work on these and ideas for monitoring the process of mastering them e.g. through feedback, coaching or a personal logbook.
- Organisation and facilition of a knowledge sharing event – Resilience Cafe – about the topic of the project assignment.
- Organisation and facilitation of a final knowledge sharing conference about creating resilient cities.
-
Resilience theory 2 (5 ECTS)
Resilience theory 2 (5 ECTS)
Topics
An interactive workshop based course in order to facilitate students in deepening their knowledge and understanding of resilience from the perspective of the project the are working on. Students retrieve and study additional scientific literature on resilience and participate in discussions, peer-reviews and coaching sessions in order to defend the (ir)relevancy of self-selected articles for the project they are working on.
Learning materials
Relevant articles and policy documents about resilience retrieved by students themselves.
Learning outcomes
A theoretical and practial substantiated written contribution to the annual Magazine Creating Resilient, e.g. an article about the project or an interview with a resilience expert.
-
Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 (10 ECTS)
Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 (10 ECTS)
Topics
The research project runs through the semester and is the heart of this programme. It invites you to develop an applicable solution for a resilience related challenge through comparative applied research, fieldwork in Rotterdam and a pressure cooker in the partner city abroad. The module Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 focuses on conducting the research by e.g. conducting interviews, doing observations, designing and piloting proto-types and redesigning the proto-type.
Learning materials
- Articles and documents used during the other modules
- Articles and documents retrieved by the students themselves
Learning outcomes
- A concrete, applicable solution for the project assignment in the form of a proto-type. Former students produced e.g. urban designs for a particular area, a management game to faciliate communication between government and citizens and a monitoring tool for urban heat effects;
- A (brief) research report that underpins the product (solution) designed;
- A presentation to share and discuss the outcome with the client and stakeholders.
Block 3 and 4
-
Resilience theory 1 (3 ECTS)
Resilience theory 1 (3 ECTS)
Topics
An introduction to a diversity of resilience theories and strategies: the Resilience Framework of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Resilience Strategy of the Municipality of Rotterdam and multiple scientific articles related to resilience in urban contexts.
Learning Material
Relevant articles and policy documents such as the Resilience Strategy of the Municipality of Rotterdam will made available on online learning environments of the program. Check the added tab for examples of literature.
Learning outcomes
- Active participation in a debate about resilience using acquired knowledge and understanding of resilience for making substantiated contributions.
- A written substantiated position towards resilience by means of an individual position paper
-
Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 (5 ECTS)
Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 (5 ECTS)
Topics
The research project runs through the semester and is the heart of the minor. It invites you to develop an applicable solution for a resilience related challenge through comparative applied research, fieldwork in Rotterdam and a pressure cooker in the partner city abroad. The module Project Creating Resilient Cities 1 is focused on understanding the project assignment and preparing the research:
- Introduction to theories related to the content of the project assignment, e.g. climate change, urban heat, social housing or smart cities.
- Specialist lecturers will introduce general theories related to the assignment
- Students will study the project assignment and the general theories from the perspective of their own disciplinary (professional) background
- Introduction to the theory and methodology of applied and comparative design research: from project assignment to research proposal
Learning materials
- Scientific and professional literature related to the content of the project assignment is provided to students through the electronic learning environment of the program
- Scientific and professional literature about the content of the project assignment from the perspective of their own profession will be retrieved by the students themselves
- Literature on the theory and methodology of comparative applied design research will be made available to students through the electronic learning environment of the program, e.g.
- Mills, M., Van de Bunt, G.G. & De bruijn, J. (2006). Comparative Research. Persistent Problems and Promising Solutions. International Sociology, 21(5):619-631
- Yin, R.K. (2003). Case study research. Design and Methods. Third Edition. Thousand Oaks/London/New Dehli: Sage Publications
Learning outcomes
- An individual conceptual model with which the student visualizes (their understanding of) the project assignment from their own discipline (profession);
- A multidisciplinary research proposal (team effort) for solving the project assignment through comparative applied design research.
-
Working in a multiperspective context (3 ECTS)
Working in a multiperspective context (3 ECTS)
Topics
An introduction to the theory and practice of cultural diversity, multidisciplinarity and bridging differences:
- National and organizational culture
- Bridging differences in diverse teams
- Differences in styles in working and learning
Learning materials
- Book chapters from Intercultural Sensitivity from Nunez, Nunez Mahdi & Popma (2017).
- Articles about boundary crossing theory e.g. Oonk,Gulikers & Mulder (2019)
Articles and book chapters will be made available to students on the electronic learning environment of the program.
Learning outcomes
- Insight in personal preferences as it comes to the role within a team
- An individual and team plan of action on how to use diversity within the team to develop a solution that addresses the multidisciplinary and cultural complexity of the project.
- An individual (oral) critical reflection on the students own performance within the team and contribution to the solution; this reflection includes insight in disovered personal strong points, blind spots and lessons learned.
-
Facilitating change (4 ECTS)
Facilitating change (4 ECTS)
Topics
Interactive, workshop based module in order to strenghten students in self-steering their own learning proces and apply learning-based approaches to facilitate knowledge sharing events and meet-ups. The agenda of the meetings (and the module) is set by the students and related to the content of their project or their own learning questions.
Learning materials
- Articles and documents used during the other modules
- Articles and documents retrieved by the students themselve
Learning outcomes
- A learning plan with personal goals for professional development, a plan to work on these and ideas for monitoring the process of mastering them e.g. through feedback, coaching or a personal logbook.
- Organization and facilition of a knowledge sharing event – Resilience Cafe – about the topic of the project assignment.
- Organization and facilitation of a final knowledge sharing conference about creating resilient cities.
-
Resilience theory 2 (5 ECTS)
Resilience theory 2 (5 ECTS)
Topics
An interactive workshop based course in order to facilitate students in deepening their knowledge and understanding of resilience from the perspective of the project the are working on. Students retrieve and study additional scientific literature on resilience and participate in discussions, peer-reviews and coaching sessions in order to defend the (ir)relevancy of self-selected articles for the project they are working on.
Learning materials
Relevant articles and policy documents about resilience retrieved by students themselves.
Learning outcomes
A theoretical and practial substantiated written contribution to the annual Magazine Creating Resilient, e.g. an article about the project or an interview with a resilience expert.
-
Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 (10 ECTS)
Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 (10 ECTS)
Topics
The research project runs through the semester and is the heart of the minor. It invites you to develop an applicable solution for a resilience related challenge through comparative applied research, fieldwork in Rotterdam and a pressure cooker in the partner city abroad. The module Project Creating Resilient Cities 2 focuses on conducting the research by e.g. conducting interviews, doing observations, designing and piloting proto-types and redesigning the proto-type.
Learning materials
- Articles and documents used during the other modules
- Articles and documents retrieved by the students themselves
Learning outcomes
- A concrete, applicable solution for the project assignment in the form of a proto-type. Former students produced e.g. urban designs for a particular area, a management game to faciliate communication between government and citizens and a monitoring tool for urban heat effects;
- A (brief) research report that underpins the product (solution) designed;
- A presentation to share and discuss the outcome with the client and stakeholders.
Practical matters
What you need to knowLocation
Where you can find us
Academieplein
Location
Where you can find us
Museumpark
Where you can find us
