THE URBAN SAMVAAD JOURNEY
Urban Samvaad is a collaborative effort of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi and Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project was initiated as one activity of this partnership between two organisations working for education and capacity building of young urban professionals. |
SCHOOL OF PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE, NEW DELHI
SPA, New Delhi is a premier deemed to be university directly under Ministry of Human Resource Development imparting education in planning, architecture, and design. The school offers 2 undergraduate degree courses, 10 postgraduate degree courses and Doctoral Programme in the field of Architecture and Planning and had produced a significant number of scholars since 1959. The School, in striving for excellence, has always been in the lead in extending education and research to new frontiers of knowledge. With the onset of globalization, the School has entered into several bilateral collaborations with foreign universities and research organizations to pursue specialized areas of research, etc. SPA encourages its students to understand community needs and address the current issues of Inclusive urbanization.
SPA, New Delhi is a premier deemed to be university directly under Ministry of Human Resource Development imparting education in planning, architecture, and design. The school offers 2 undergraduate degree courses, 10 postgraduate degree courses and Doctoral Programme in the field of Architecture and Planning and had produced a significant number of scholars since 1959. The School, in striving for excellence, has always been in the lead in extending education and research to new frontiers of knowledge. With the onset of globalization, the School has entered into several bilateral collaborations with foreign universities and research organizations to pursue specialized areas of research, etc. SPA encourages its students to understand community needs and address the current issues of Inclusive urbanization.
GIZ BUILDS CAPACITIES FOR THE FUTURE OF CITIES AROUND THE GLOBE
Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been active in the urban sector all over the world. Not only innovative technical solutions are developed with partners in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East but capacity building of urban institutions and professionals is one cross-sectional aim.
In India, GIZ works with the urban planning professionals and also supports universities and training institutions to promote innovative education for future planners and architects.
One innovative example for capacity building was “For Me and For Everybody”, a programme on youth exchange between India and Germany organised by GIZ and the Benares Hindu University (BHU) in collaboration with Varanasi Municipal Corporation and the City of Hamburg. This programme aimed at encouraging young people to think about their environment and its influence on their daily life. The 8 participating students from BHU went beyond their academic curricula and gathered hands-on experience by attending workshops, doing internships with environmental organisations in Varanasi; and participating in a two-week long seminar along with German youth in Hamburg. By that students honed their social skills and sharpened their aptitude to work with others for a larger common cause.
Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has been active in the urban sector all over the world. Not only innovative technical solutions are developed with partners in Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East but capacity building of urban institutions and professionals is one cross-sectional aim.
In India, GIZ works with the urban planning professionals and also supports universities and training institutions to promote innovative education for future planners and architects.
One innovative example for capacity building was “For Me and For Everybody”, a programme on youth exchange between India and Germany organised by GIZ and the Benares Hindu University (BHU) in collaboration with Varanasi Municipal Corporation and the City of Hamburg. This programme aimed at encouraging young people to think about their environment and its influence on their daily life. The 8 participating students from BHU went beyond their academic curricula and gathered hands-on experience by attending workshops, doing internships with environmental organisations in Varanasi; and participating in a two-week long seminar along with German youth in Hamburg. By that students honed their social skills and sharpened their aptitude to work with others for a larger common cause.
SPA AND GIZ JOIN HANDS
In January 2013 SPA, New Delhi and GIZ India entered into a formal and long-term cooperation to organise a programme that would encourage students from various disciplines of planning to think beyond their academic engagements and contribute proactively to making India’s urbanization an inclusive process.
By participating in this programme, the students get opportunities to develop capacities such as skills to look at the big picture of planning, skills to communicate their ideas and relevance of their work, skills to cooperate and collaborate with others to reach a common goal, skills to devise and practice participatory methods of working. They got a taste of realities of planning; and received a platform to interact with international planning experts and the general public.
In January 2013 SPA, New Delhi and GIZ India entered into a formal and long-term cooperation to organise a programme that would encourage students from various disciplines of planning to think beyond their academic engagements and contribute proactively to making India’s urbanization an inclusive process.
By participating in this programme, the students get opportunities to develop capacities such as skills to look at the big picture of planning, skills to communicate their ideas and relevance of their work, skills to cooperate and collaborate with others to reach a common goal, skills to devise and practice participatory methods of working. They got a taste of realities of planning; and received a platform to interact with international planning experts and the general public.
PUTTING UP URBAN SAMVAAD - A COLLECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE JOURNEY
The exhibition “Urban Samvaad” was developed by students and graduates based on their knowledge, skills and ideas. The first step of the journey was a two-day interactive workshop, where students had to present the research they’ve conducted within the SPA-GIZ collaboration for the first time in a non-academic environment. While the content of the thesis was only one of the criteria of selection of students, who take part in the “Urban Samvaad”; emphasis was laid on communication skills, creative and interdisciplinary thinking, and ideas-translation skills.
The whole process was facilitated by experts from GIZ and SPA. They introduced the students and graduates to participatory methods, experience-based learning and tools for knowledge communication.
The exhibition “Urban Samvaad” was developed by students and graduates based on their knowledge, skills and ideas. The first step of the journey was a two-day interactive workshop, where students had to present the research they’ve conducted within the SPA-GIZ collaboration for the first time in a non-academic environment. While the content of the thesis was only one of the criteria of selection of students, who take part in the “Urban Samvaad”; emphasis was laid on communication skills, creative and interdisciplinary thinking, and ideas-translation skills.
The whole process was facilitated by experts from GIZ and SPA. They introduced the students and graduates to participatory methods, experience-based learning and tools for knowledge communication.
THE DIALOGUE HAS ONLY STARTED...
Urban Samvaad is the first step on a journey towards innovative approaches in the education of urban professionals of the future. GIZ and SPA will continue to contribute together to changing the educational landscape in India by developing experience-based learning projects and fostering exchange across academic boundaries.
This joint effort of SPA and GIZ is unique, innovative and will contribute to creating a new generation of urban planners and architects, who understand that planning our cities needs to be an inclusive, sustainable and participatory process.
Urban Samvaad is the first step on a journey towards innovative approaches in the education of urban professionals of the future. GIZ and SPA will continue to contribute together to changing the educational landscape in India by developing experience-based learning projects and fostering exchange across academic boundaries.
This joint effort of SPA and GIZ is unique, innovative and will contribute to creating a new generation of urban planners and architects, who understand that planning our cities needs to be an inclusive, sustainable and participatory process.