杏吧论坛

Dr Sunil Kumar OLD.2.55

This course is available on the MSc in Development Management, MSc in Development Studies, MSc in International Social and Public Policy, MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Development), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (杏吧论坛 and Fudan), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Migration), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations) and MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

All Social Policy Courses are ‘Controlled Access’. Please see the link below for further details on the allocation process.

Some knowledge of or experience of dealing with urban issues is desirable. To apply for a place on this course, prospective students will have to write a 250-word statement (information will be available on the Moodle page for the course) as to: (i) why they would like to take this course - 50 words; (ii) what they can bring to the course - 125 words, and (iii) how they intend to use the knowledge gained (for example, for their dissertation or future employment or research) - 75 words.

Some experience of urban issues in the Global South or North is desirable.

The course critically explores the challenges and opportunities that urbanisation and urban transformations pose in the social, spatial, economic, institutional and political realms in the urban Global South.  A plurality of theoretical and conceptual perspectives informing contemporary policies and planning practices are explored each week. 

Some of the themes explored in the course are, urbanisation, urbanism and social change, theories of urbanisation and urban change, internal migration and the rural-urban interface, urban poverty and livelihoods, urban labour markets and livelihoods, urban housing and tenure, urban basic services, urban governance, and urban social movements and collective action.  Cross-cutting themes such as gender and the role of civil society are also explored. 

Prospective students must be willing to commit themselves to full participation in all aspects of the course, including an element of art. They will be required to read and discuss the essential readings for both the lectures and seminars each week.  They are also expected to read more widely and actively participate in the seminars. This course seeks a weekly commitment from students to undertake a non-assessed activity: (i) My_City – a short 500-750-word desk-based piece of research and writing that links key issues emerging from the lecture to a city of their choice with the view to meeting one of the pedagogical aims of this course, namely, linking theory with policy and practice.  In addition to Moodle, the course will use other online tools such as Padlet.  

15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT.

1. In addition to the subject/topic based lectures, there will be two additonal lectures on: (i) Dr. Kumar's research (as the course is research led) in week 1 or 2 of LT, and; (ii) on the task for the summative essay (around week 5).