Nordic Urban Planning - how to plan the cities of the future
“We are very proud of what we are now able to offer,” says Associate Professor Anniken Førde as UiT Arctic University of Norway, in collaboration with Danish Roskilde University and Swedish Malmö University, launches the new joint Nordic master’s degree programme Nordic Urban Planning.
“We know there is major international interest in the Nordic model in this area, which focuses on innovative approaches to sustainability, viability, mobility, ‘smart’ cities and welfare to give but a few examples,” says Førde, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Sciences at UiT’s Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education.
She points out that planning and development of cities is now part of local as well as global networks.
Challenges of the future
“Private and public sector actors both play decisive roles in the challenges cities face and their opportunities for development. This can involve everything from climate adaptation to architecture and social organisation, elements that form part of complex societal contexts.”
This collaboration between the three Nordic universities contributes a comparative and international perspective on urban planning. It also involves the students spending time at all three universities.
Field Studies in Tromsø
The first semester, which is compulsory for all students, will take place at Roskilde University.
The second semester offers the opportunity for specialisation in different subjects at the three universities. UiT offers three courses, each with a scope of 10 credits (ECTS): Planning and Democracy, Culture, Politics and Planning, and Arctic Cities.
The third semester starts with field studies in Tromsø and concludes in Malmö. Students are recommended to write their master’s thesis at the university they chose for their specialisation in the second semester.
The education will qualify candidates for advisory and planning-related tasks within the field of urban planning in the public or private sector.
Broad support from the business sector
"Urban planning and urban development occur in an overlapping area that involves collaboration between different actors such as project developers, consultancy companies, planning authorities and the enterprise performing the project. We envisage that candidates with a master’s in Nordic Urban Planning Studies will find their place this area,” says Førde.
The master’s degree programme has received financial support from the Nordic Council of Ministers via the “Nordic Master Programme”. The universities have also secured broad support from the business sector, and major actors such as Rambøll, Siemens and Cowi have been positive about the launch of the master’s degree programme in Nordic Urban Planning Studies.
