The Center for Urban Development Studies at Harvard University Graduate School of Design has established several kinds of training programs to offer senior professionals involved in urban management and development a unique opportunity to strengthen their decision-making skills in a fast paced, stimulating setting. 

The International Education Programs developed by the Center for Urban Development Studies at the GSD, address the challenges faced by public agencies, private organizations, and NGOs as they respond to changing central/local relationships, new economic realities, and pressing social needs. The program focuses on the complementary roles that can be played by public agencies, NGOs, and the business sector and highlights partnership concepts and mechanisms that integrate public and private resources. 

To date, more than 300 participants from 52 countries have attended the programs held at the GSD. Participants are decision makers and senior professionals affiliated with public agencies, private organizations and NGOs; 50% come from regional and municipal agencies, 35% from national and central agencies, and 15% from private organizations and universities. Their responsibilities range from policy formulation to project implementation and their concerns cover issues of management of economic development, land, infrastructure, housing, urban services, and community-based initiatives. 

The wide geographical distribution of participants offers a unique opportunity to share and learn from each other's experiences. Previous programs have included participants from Albania, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Trinidad, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Uganda, Uruguay, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe.

In addition, the Center provides tailor-made programs for senior professionals as well as policy and strategy assessment seminars for decision makers. Program structures have been developed which offer a core session held at Harvard or another location subsequently followed by specialized sessions that allow participants to directly apply the course contents to their own settings. 

The programs held at the GSD are normally offered for a one or two-week period with each module typically given in three days. The length of specialized programs can vary between three days for highly focused sessions for decision makers to longer five-to-ten day sessions for senior officials and practitioners depending on the topic and the specific needs of the participating groups. 

RECENT IEP NEWS

SOUTH AFRICA, Executive Seminars.

At the request of the South African government the Center is conducting executive education programs for South African central, provincial and municipal officials. The first courses addressed the issue of Strategic Planning for Urban Revitalization and Local Development. Three sessions were held in 2000, in Cape Town (January), Durban (May), and Pretoria (November). Each session was attended by about 60 participants. 

Reflecting the expanding scope of South Africa's Municipal Infrastructure Program, the Center adapted the course to focus on Infrastructure and Partnerships for Local Economic Development.  Two sessions were held in  2001, the first in Eastern Cape (May) and the second in Pretoria (August). 

In 2002, the Center conducted sessions in Pretoria in  January and  in Eastern Cape in August 2002. In 2003, courses have been offered in Pretoria in January, the next session will occur in August 2003. Mona Serageldin, John Driscoll, Christopher Rogers, Keith Garner and Liz Meléndez have conducted the seminars.

François Vigier and Mona Serageldin collaborated in this special executive education program conducted by Dean Rowe, faculty and staff of the GSD, by teaching planning modules. The program organized by the Office of Executive Education at the GSD, acquainted mainland China participants with planning and urban design concepts, approaches and techniques not commonly used today in China

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, Study Tour
 

Community Based Development in Boston: Study Tour

A group of 21 community development professionals, local politicians and residents from four municipalities of the Parisian suburbs (Saint-Denis, Aubervillliers, Drancy and Clichy) visited Boston during March 18 - 23, 2002 to study community based development in the City. The Center, led by John Driscoll and Thomas Watkin in collaboration with Joel Schwartz of the Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation, organized a program addressing the issues of: neighborhood participation, revitalization of public housing, economic development, housing, rehabilitation of historic buildings and public/private partnerships in Boston.  Marie-Helene Bacque of the Centre de Recherche sur l'Habitat in Paris and Profession Banlieue, a training and resource center that helps to implement La politique de la ville, organized the visit.  

 

Selected documents are available for download in PDF format: 

- Seminar Program

- Presentation of the cit of Seine Saint-Denis

Check the web site of Profession Banlieue for more informations on their activities in La politique de la ville. 

Joel Schwartz and Benedicte Madelin, director of Profession Banlieue (left), and other seminar participants from Profession Banlieue (right)

In November 2001, Liz Meléndez assisted Lee Cott in organizing a travel /study program in Havana, Cuba.  The program, designed for executives working in real estate development, design,  urban planning, and preservation, focused on the restoration and redevelopment of La Habana Vieja (Old Havana).  The group visited various sites throughout the city and met with government officials to discuss planning objectives and development programs in Havana.

SOUTH AMERICA, Study Tour

 

The Center, in collaboration with the Urban Management Program Latin America (UMP/LAC) organized a tour of cities which have received Best Practices awards under the UNCHS/Habitat Best Practices and Local Leadership program for twelve South African senior officials from central, provincial, and local government. The Center's BLP coordinator Keith Garner accompanied the group on visits to innovative local development initiatives relying on partnership and participatory processes including community based housing and infrastructure projects in Fortaleza, participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre, integrated development and social inclusion in Sao Paolo and Santo Andre, and improvement of infrastructure and public space in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro.