European Fellowships for training in urban studies

Objective:
Cities are one of the most relevant places to observe, understand and influence changes in all fields of economy and society. Most inhabitants in the European Union are living in urban areas. “Future Urban Research in Europe” (FUTURE) therefore supports the research competencies, networks and human potentials to meet the future challenges in the cities of Europe.
The project will continue and bring forward the existing research on different features of urban life in Europe. FUTURE aims at the integration of different disciplines such as urban planning, political science, urban design, sociology, management research, architecture, economics, regional planning and other relevant contributing areas. The project will result in the substantial and sustainable founding of a network of training and exchange to prepare young scientists for the research on the European City.

Concept:
The idea of the FUTURE will be realised in four intensive training programmes for young academics. Every training programme has a different annual issue. The programme consists of the following elements:

1. Application
2. Selection by an international scientific committee
3. Preparatory workshop
(Issues: Ethics of Research, European Integration and Urban Change; Methodological Training in Urban Research; Writing Skills; Career Planning)
4. Online training: Feedback from senior researchers on the draft paper
5. International conference: Paper presentation
6. Review of the paper
7. Publication
8. Certificate

Annual Themes:

1. The Electronic City (2005)
• E-Government and Political Participation
• E-Economy and the City
• E-Learning and the Knowledge Society

2. Urban Governance (2006)
• Urban Governance in Times of Globalisation/Europeanisation
• Urban Governance and Partnerships
• Innovative Strategies for Participation

3. Culture and the City (2007)
• Culture and Urban Regeneration
• Culture as a Renewal Strategy
• Culture and the Creation of Innovation

4. The Ethnically Diverse City (2008)
• Ethnic Diversity and Urban Policies
• Integration of Ethnic Groups
• Ethnic Diverse Neighbourhoods

The fellowships:
All accepted applicants will be granted a fellowship of the European Commission which will enable the participation at the workshop and conference (travel expenses, accommodation). FUTURE is proposed to ensure the sound training of young researchers with regard to

• provide the profound feedback from senior researchers
• link theoretical approaches to challenges of urban life
• enable contacts to international colleagues
• improve the competencies of the young researchers
• discuss research within the framework of European policies

Applications:
Scholars (graduates, post-graduates, PhD, post-PhD) from all disciplines and all European nations can apply. The selection will be lead by an international scientific committee. Researchers with more than 10 years of research experiences cannot be granted. In accordance with EU policies, FUTURE especially encourages women, disabled persons, members of ethnic minorities and researchers from accessing countries to apply.

Deadlines:
E-City: 1. July 2005
Urban Governance: 1. April 2006
Culture and the City: 1. April 2007
Ethnic Divers City: 1. April 2008

Please send an abstract (max. 250 words) and curriculum vitae (max. 250 words) as an e-mail attachment (word document) to: future@uni-weimar.de

 

Download the brochure of the programme

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