AG2153 City regions in multi-level networks 7.5 credits

The course focuses on city regions and networks, and their role in sustainable development, competitiveness, and territorial cohesion. Various fundamental principles for development at the urban and regional levels are discussed in relation to national and EU policy.

Differences in conditions between different urban areas are a central theme. The course provides insight into how urban and regional structures reshape the economic and social conditions of metropolitan regions, smaller towns, and rural areas, both in regional and national contexts.

Integration at regional, European, and global levels is of central importance for both city regions and individual cities—for example, in relation to competitiveness and how areas, cities, and city regions are perceived. Urban planning, marketing, and strategies for creating attractive urban environments are discussed in the course. This also applies to cities in peripheral areas, where the conditions for networking differ from those in more densely populated regions. Various cities, city regions, and urban areas will be analyzed and evaluated both during lectures and through literature and policy documents.

After passing the course, the student should:

• be aware of various theories of urban development and change, as well as territorial cohesion and its impact at the macro, meso, and micro levels.
• be able to analyze the interaction between individual cities within networks and their significance for regional development.
• be able to analyze and evaluate the conditions of different cities to enhance their competitiveness at national and international levels, as well as their role as drivers of development.
• be familiar with various urban and regional structural development concepts and be able to apply these in planning and policy.
• be able to develop strategies and write recommendations for individual public policymakers and administrations to strengthen competitiveness in city-regional contexts.

• PRO1 - Group assignment , 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• PRO2 - Group assignment , 2.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PRO3 - Group assignment , 2.0 credits, grading scale: P, F
• INL1 - Individual assignment, 1.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability. The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students. If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.