Les communs urbains : Repenser la ville à l'ère du changement

Course Description

"Les communs urbains : Repenser la ville à l'ère du changement" is an advanced-level course offered by LouvainX that delves into the fascinating world of urban commons and their role in shaping our cities and communities. This course explores the emerging collective initiatives of inhabitants, users, and citizens who are inventing innovative solutions to fundamental needs such as food, housing, mobility, income generation, education, and health preservation. It also examines how these collectives are reimagining consumption, production, work, and coexistence in response to climate change and resource scarcity challenges.

What students will learn from the course:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Mobilize and utilize interdisciplinary knowledge to observe, understand, and describe the evolution of territories.
2. Identify practices related to specific spaces.
3. Analyze and narrate these practices effectively.

Prerequisites or skills necessary to complete the course:

This is a master's level course with no specific disciplinary prerequisites. However, a general understanding of urban planning and development is considered an asset. The course is conducted in French, so proficiency in the language is essential.

What the course will cover:

• Introduction to urban commons and their definitions
• Commons and housing
• Commons and mobility
• Commons and land management
• Commons and urban services
• Commons and workspaces
• Commons and landscapes
• Commons and urban project narratives

Who this course is for:

1. Holders of a second-cycle university degree (from any discipline) seeking additional training in spatial organization as a support for social, economic, and cultural development processes.
2. Urban planners and developers wishing to improve the integration of social and environmental dimensions in spatial planning.
3. Development sector professionals who want to consider the diversity of development practices and concepts while learning to better integrate the spatial dimension.

How learners can use these skills in the real world:

The skills acquired in this course will enable learners to critically analyze and contribute to urban development projects with a focus on community-driven initiatives. They will be able to identify and assess the potential of urban commons in transforming territories, which is invaluable for urban planners, policymakers, and community organizers. These skills can be applied to create more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban environments that address the pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change and resource scarcity.

Syllabus:

1. Landmarks and definitions
2. Commons and housing
3. Commons and mobility
4. Commons and land management
5. Commons and urban services
6. Commons and workspaces
7. Commons and landscapes
8. Commons and urban project narratives

This course offers a unique blend of social sciences and urban planning approaches, providing students with methodological tools to identify active commons in their environment, describe their various dimensions critically, and evaluate their potential for territorial transformation. With numerous examples and an evolving exercise related to individual experiences, students pursuing the certificate will have the opportunity to create an audiovisual narrative on the topic of commons.

As one learner on Class Central testifies, "Of great richness without being inaccessible to non-specialized audiences, it certainly requires an effort from the participants, which is accomplished with pleasure!"

Join us in this enriching exploration of urban commons and discover how they are reshaping our cities and communities for a more sustainable future.