MASTER PAR
Master’s Course on
International
Cooperation and
Urban Development
at Darmstadt University of Technology
Urbanization, especially in the countries of the South, has advanced at an exploding scale, and will continue to do so in the next decades. Much of that development is unplanned and not co-ordinated by the responsible authorities, and results in unmanageable problems in terms of housing, infrastructure provision, environment and conviviality. Whereas conventional urban planning and design skills prove unable to cope with this process, an integrated and co-ordinating strategic approach is required to skilfully guide urban development in those countries and to mediate between the concerned stakeholders’ and achieve the most productive outcome.
In a rapidly globalizing world this task requires an in-depth understanding of the international setting and linkages implying the integration of multinational expert teams and may involve the participation of foreign or international aid- and development co-operation agencies. Different from some other European countries there are no established academic courses preparing for such a task in Germany - and this has been repeatedly criticized by co-operation agencies such as the GTZ or the KfW. Given this deficit and considering the growing need for well prepared professionals in the sector, there will be excellent job opportunities waiting for experts who have completed an adequate practice oriented training course. This can be illustrated by the success of a similar master course at the Berlin Humboldt University specializing in international agronomic development and whose participants are highly valued in the job market.
A master course specializing in international urban development is being conceived at TUD Darmstadt. This initiative is seeking official endorsement by development co-operation agencies like the GTZ, KfW, DED and UNCHS – apart form the mandatory German governmental accreditation. The proximity of the Frankfurt Rhein-Main international air gateway, and the place of mayor German agencies for international development represent a comparative advantage for the Darmstadt location.
Prospective students of the planned Master course will be either Germans or foreigners aiming at work in urban development processes in the South. This could be under engagement of an international aid agency, a consultancy firm, a NGO, a local government agency of a country in the South, or as advocate of the affected stakeholders (such as a neighbourhood committee). A considerable proportion of participants will have a planners’ background (including also urban design and architecture). However, considering the necessary interdisciplinary approach, other related professions such as infrastructure engineers, sociologists, anthropologists, geographers, economists are encouraged to inscribe.
The proposed Master course is designed for post-graduate specialization and aims at professionals who already have a first university diploma. The course extends over two years, whereby the first year is dedicated to a structured and interdisciplinary teaching course in Darmstadt, and the second year incorporates
(a) a stage or research in a Developing Country (1 term),
(b) one or more specializing courses at one of the accredited partner universities of TUD, and
(c) the preparation of the Master’s Thesis itself (which can be done either in Darmstadt or at the partner university).
Students with exceptionally good results may continue their study for a PhD – for which the minimum of an additional year should be allowed for.
Apart from the faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning various other faculties will participate in the venture and be responsible for specialized tuition areas. These faculties shall include, among others, civil engineering, history, sociology, communications/new media and economics. A dominant role will be assumed by the Darmstadt Centre for Interdisciplinary Technological Research (ZIT), which carries a long standing focus on international cooperation issues. Since many skills taught are highly specialized and practice oriented, invited specialized teaching staff will offer compact specialization courses under the supervision of the assigned professors. These compact courses, in average of two to three weeks duration, can also be booked individually by outsiders seeking short term options for continuing education (and may obtain a participation certificate).
The course language is English. Occasional lectures or optional compact courses may also be given in another common language. The thesis may also be submitted in German, French, Spanish or Portuguese if agreed so by the supervisor. The selected specialization options will be listed in the Master’s certificate.
Applicants are expected to have minimum of one year professional work experience after graduation. The previous diploma must be equivalent to four years full time university study, and its validity for inscription will be assessed by Darmstadt University (except for diplomas obtained at German Universities and acknowledged Partner Universities of TUD which are automatically accepted). Applicants from a non Anglophone country must prove a sound knowledge of English (TOEFL certificate) and all must be able to communicate in another official UN language.
At present, several European and overseas universities have cooperation agreements with Darmstadt University and/or with its Faculty of Architecture, or are preparing such a co-operation:
Being an add-on qualification after a regular university study, a tuition fee charged to all students (but there is no fee planned for a possible PhD extension including supervision). The fee for the first year will be approximately EUR 5,000,-. The fee for the second year depends on the selected partner university for the first term, to which a supervision fee of EUR 500,- will be added for the thesis term. (Fees under revision) Being an international course there will be studentships available through the DAAD for foreign students which they must apply for in their country of origin. Other grants may be available form other institutions for exceptionally talented and/or needy applicants on a one-to-one basis.
A shortlist of typical course subjects
follows below. This proposal will be assessed and taken further by an
inter-institutional workshop among the related faculties of Darmstadt
University, co-operation agencies like the GTZ and KfW and representatives from
consultancy companies.
This postgraduate course will only be available for students with a previous diploma and 5 years university study.
Government accreditation is expected for late 2004. The first course will then start in spring or autumn 2005.