Structure

STRUCTURE

The E-Urbs MA delivers a 60 ECTS curricula, including a final master’s thesis. In order to take advantage of the blended approach of the MA, the course is divided into three main teaching periods beginning on the 30th August 2007 and ending on the 31st August 2008.

(*) Weeks

During these periods different forms of teaching/training are organised and specific activities are expected to be carried out by students. The single teaching units are part of courses.

FIRST PERIOD: Intensive face-to-face course

(From 30/08/2007 to 26/09/2007)
During this first period there will be 6 courses. During each week two courses will take place. Each course foresees 10 teaching hours (2 per day for 5 days) for a total of 60 hours teaching. Each course counts for 2,5 ECTS. This first period has a total value of 15 ECTS.

 “Welcome Package”: the toolkit of the master (3 days)
Yuri Kazepov and Giovanni Torrisi

1. Presentation of the MA and of Urbino Self presentation of the participants and tutor assignment
2. Methodological internet crash course: how do I find the information I need on the internet?
3. Expectations and curricula development: introduction to the “portfolio” management tool
4. General introduction on the use of the online software (Land of Learning)

First Week (2 courses, 5 ECTS)

1. The key issues in Urban Studies (Hartmut Haussermann, DE)
2. Urban research design (selection of the research hypothesis, how to operazionalise it, results validation and evaluation) (Wim Ostendorf, NL)

Second Week (2 courses, 5 ECTS)

1. Urban governance in transition: debates and practices (Hans Thor Andersen, DK)
2. Comparative data analysis (M. Pisati, IT)

Third Week (2 courses, 5 ECTS)

1. Understanding urban change (Chris Kesteloot, BE)
2. Using Quantitative and qualitative methods in urban research (G. Nuvolati et al., IT)

De-briefing, exams and assessment (3 days) 

After the 3 ½  weeks teaching, students will be assessed using different methods:

1) Multiple-choice and open questionnaires. For each course students have to fill in a questionnaire including a set of multiple choice and open questions. Each professor will assess the open questions, while the answers to the multiple choice questions will produce an automatic assessment;
2) Working Papers. Students will be also asked to write two papers: a) one on methodological issues; b) one on theoretical issues.

If a student has a bad performance they will have to repeat the exams and tutors will direct him/her providing ad hoc support.

SECOND PERIOD: Online teaching

Period: From 09/10/07 to 20/12/07 and from 15/01/08 to 27/03/08.
The teaching activity taking place in these periods will be organised online and foresees 6 main overarching themes for the single teaching units for a total of 27 credits divided as follows:

There is an equivalence between the number of ECTS and the number of chats carried out during each module (1 ECTS = 1 CHAT). A total of 27 chats will be organised. For each course an additional chat will be organised with a guest scholar from outside the network. In general it should be a well known international scholar, expert on the subject of the course.