Smart Cities is a rapidly growing concept in both research and policy practice. It is viewed as a solution for cities to better cope with key societal challenges like energy transition, mobility and social innovation through extensive and effective use of big data and IT.
This, in turn, calls for new modes of – smart – governance, with the active involvement of a wide diversity of public, private and citizens’ organizations. In this summer course, Smart Cities is being studied through a variety of perspectives: the perspective of research, economy, government, ethics, marketing, communication, design and philosophy.
The central theme in this year’s Smart Cities course is Smart City Life. The big question is: How do citizens perceive their life in the "smart city"? In the University of Twente high tech meets human touch and there we like to put the focus on the course.
Course video
Course topics
The art & science powering the smart city: for example data pipelines, analytics, visualizations for smart decision making.
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to...
- ... work with with data pipelines, for collecting validating and analyzing information from various sources, including new media
- ... perform basic data manipulations
- ... perform basic textmining, sentiment analysis, basic classification.
- ... create visualizations using ggplot2 and plotly.
How?
Using data analytics skills students will perform various data querying for finding answers to essential questions during the challenge.
The city of Hengelo & Enschede are actively involved in implementing smart city innovations and technology into their infrastructure. How can the (local) government increase citizens involvement and engagement within the smart city?
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to...
- ... describe the role of government in the smart city.
- ... analyze and explain local/regional smart city innovations using a multidisciplinary approach
- ... identify and evaluate problem-solving strategies, and develop science-based solutions
- ... establish relevant criteria and standards for acceptable solution
- ... make estimates and critically appreciate solutions value and limitations.
How?
Using the information from this topic students will perform an audit of a chosen local/regional smart city problem and propose alternative paths towards a solution.
We create tons of bits of information about our life in the big city. How can citizens actively be involved in the smart city life and how we can preserve the privacy and security of our daily interactions with the smart city?
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to...
- .... define and explain the role of citizens in a smart city ecosystem
- ... describe the privacy concepts, data ownership and data governance, in accordance with the GDPR
- ... explain the basic concepts of citizens acceptance of innovations and technology using various research models (TAM, UTAUT, etc.)
- ... describe the psychological effects of technology and innovations.
How?
Students will integrate the findings from previous topics in explaining the psychological impact of the smart city. They will focus on answering various essential questions for the challenge, such as: How to increase the acceptance of the smart city? How to implement the innovations while preserving privacy and data ownership?
Think of sustainable energy, smart grids and circular economy. How can we use data and information for developing a sustainable, less polluting smart city?
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to...
- ... define sustainability and describe in their work how they use the principles of sustainability to achieve the goals of the educational challenge
- ... explain how natural, economic, and social systems interact to foster or prevent sustainability
- ... analyze and explain local/regional sustainability initiatives using a multidisciplinary approach
How?
Within this topic, students will reflect on various sustainability issues raised by the implementation of the smart city. They will try to find answers to essential questions such as: How to reduce the pollution footprint in the quest of introducing innovations and technology in the city? How to develop sustainable energy systems and circular economy in the smart city context?
Urban mobility was confronted with a new challenge: safety in the times of epidemic spreads. How to tackle this challenge?
Learning outcomes:
Students will be able to ...
- ... define urban mobility problems
- ... compare basic transportation models for mobility planning
- ... describe basic epidemic spreading model (SIR) focusing on the impact on the safety of transportation systems
- ... define basic strategies for transitioning from legacy to smart urban mobility infrastructure
How?
Within this topic students will reflect on various sustainability, resilience and efficiency of urban infrastructure, addressing also the need for safety during epidemics.
Challenge based learning
In collaboration with project partners Kennispunt Twente, the municipality of Hengelo and Enschede, we offer this summer course as a fully challenge-based learning module. What does that mean? Challenge Based Learning is collaborative and hands-on, asking students to work with peers, teachers, and experts in their communities and around the world to address, understand and find solutions for the challenge.
- A multiple entry point strategy and varied and multiple possible solutions
- A focus on universal challenges with local solutions
- An authentic connection with multiple disciplines
- An opportunity to develop 21st-century skills
- The purposeful use of Web 2.0 tools for organizing, collaborating, and publishing
- The opportunity for students to do something rather than just learn about something
- the documentation of the learning experience from challenge to solution
- 24/7 access to up-to-date technology tools and resources so students can do their work
CuriousU 2017 Testimonial- Smart Cities- Roxanni- Greece
Course aims
The course is aiming at students interested in innovations that make life more effective, pleasant and efficient. Integrating technological, social and organizational science to achieve intelligent and smart solutions for challenges in a rapidly changing world. In the course you will:
- Learn all about many aspects of Smart Cities, ranging from governing a smart city to maintaining the infrastructure in a smart city
- Apply your knowledge from both technical and governance aspects to smart city development in group exercises
- Work in multidisciplinary teams
- Learn how you can contribute to smart city developments in your own environment
Stay tuned for more upcoming information regarding the 2023 course!
Course details
Dates: 13-22 August 2023
Methods: Lectures, interactive workshopsCourse level: Advanced BSC., MSc.
Target group: Students in their third Bachelor’s year, entry-level Master’s students and professionals with an interest in smart cities.
Credits: 2 ECTS for successfully completing the summer school
Course leader
R. Marinescu-Muster MSc (Robert)
PhD Candidate
Want to know more?
If you need to know more, we have information available about the fee & programme, an admission check, registration & payment and the terms & conditions.
