Urban governance and evidence based politics 2400-OG-EN-UGaEBP

The course focuses on tools and methods that support decision-making in local governments and other urban institutions, with an emphasis on balancing social, environmental, and economic aspects. Students learn about the role of stakeholders, methods of data analysis, and examples of good practices in city management that promote sustainable solutions. Classes include case studies, workshops, and work on a project to develop recommendations for a selected urban problem, taking into account sustainable development goals. During the course, we emphasize the need to combine scientific evidence with the local socio-political context in order to create urban policies that promote both development and environmental protection. Participants will gain knowledge on how to create sustainable urban strategies based on reliable data, which is key to the effective and responsible management of cities of the future.

Detailed course content / list of topics

1. Introduction to Urban Governance – theory, models, and global challenges.
2. Stakeholders and Multi-level Governance – collaboration between municipal authorities, NGOs, private sector, and residents.
3. Evidence-Based Policymaking – methods of data collection and analysis (urban data, social research).
4. Designing and Implementing Data-driven Urban Policies – from diagnosis to action.
5. Case Studies – successful and failed initiatives in different cities worldwide.
6. Barriers and Limitations – conflicts of interest, data gaps, socio-political contexts.
7. Workshop & Project Work – preparing recommendations for a selected urban problem aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.