CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT - 2

This module is a core component of the Master's Degree Programme in Innovation and Management for Culture and Creativity. It provides an in-depth exploration of creativity and innovation in urban development, equipping students with a comprehensive understanding of how innovative strategies can address complex urban challenges and foster sustainable, inclusive, and dynamic urban spaces.
This is a 6+6 ECTS module offered in the second semester (III and IV periods). The following syllabus outlines the full structure of both part I and II (proff. Nuccio and Stocchetti).

By the end of the course, students will:
1. know the basic determinants of urban development and urban sustainability in terms of environmental and social resilience and cohesion.
2. Analyze the relationship between creativity, innovation, and urban development.
3. Master key methodologies for the management of complex design and management situations, such as design thinking, systems thinking, and participatory planning.
4. Evaluate global case studies and identify transferable lessons for diverse urban contexts.
5. Design and implement innovative strategies for urban regeneration and sustainable development.
6. Collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams to address urban challenges.
7. Communicate complex ideas and solutions to stakeholders using professional tools and techniques.

The course does not require any prerequisites.

The course is built around 5 major urban challenges, combining lectures, workshops, fieldwork, and independent research. The extended credit load allows for deeper engagement with each topic and more comprehensive project work.

1. Agglomeration – Why the City?
(Why do cities form, and how do knowledge spillovers and clustering drive innovation?)
• The Historical Development of Urban Settlements: Economic, technological, and cultural determinants of city formation.
• Knowledge Clusters and Learning in the Digital Era: How cities facilitate knowledge spillovers and innovation.
• Creative and Innovation Districts: Understanding the role of clustering in urban economies.

2. Accessibility – Where in the City?
(How do infrastructure, mobility, and land use determine spatial organization?)
• Urban Mobility and Sustainable Transport Systems: The role of transport in shaping urban space.
• The Digital City and Smart Urban Infrastructure: The impact of digitalization on urban connectivity.
• Tourism and Urban Accessibility: The Case of Venice: How tourism-driven spatial structures shape accessibility.

3. Spatial Interaction – How in the City?
(How do flows of people, goods, and knowledge shape urban life?)
• Systems Thinking and Urban Complexity: How cities function as dynamic, interconnected systems.
• Understanding Socio-Economic Dynamics in Cities: A system dynamics approach to urban transformation.
• Participatory Urbanism and Community-Led Innovation: The role of public engagement in shaping cities.

4. Urban Hierarchy – Which and How Many Cities?
(How do cities position themselves within regional, national and global networks?)
• Centers, Peripheries, and Global Urban Networks: The spatial organization of cities on different scales.
• Heritage Cities and the Global Economy: How cultural capitals maintain relevance in competitive urban landscapes.
• Urban Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Change: Strategies for cities facing global environmental challenges.

5. Competitiveness – Why Do Cities Grow?
(What drives urban growth in the post-industrial era?)
• The Creative City and the Knowledge Economy: How creative industries drive urban competitiveness.
• Cultural Policies and City Branding: Leveraging creativity for economic positioning.
• Gentrification, Re-Urbanization, and Social Change: Socio-economic transformation in contemporary cities.
• Art, Public Space, and Urban Attractiveness: The role of cultural initiatives in urban regeneration.
• Sustainable Urban Development in the Competitive City: Balancing economic growth with environmental and social sustainability.

The readings for the examination and further readings will include articles, reports and audiovisual materials, including slides used during the course.
All material will be made available on Moodle from the beginning of the course

Students will have to produce project papers (possibly including material and audiovisual papers) regarding the analysis and proposal of solutions to innovation and management problems related to urban development. Part of these papers may be developed in relation to the active laboratories that will be proposed during the course.
Students will also have to take an oral exam.

written and oral

The final grade is based on the quality of the project/work, the ability to analyze and argue, the clarity of exposition, and the mastery of theoretical and methodological concepts.
18-20 Acceptable project/work. Basic knowledge of essential course content, simple but understandable exposition. Partially correct answers with some inaccuracies. Limited ability to apply concepts.
21-23 Fair project/work. Overall understanding of topics with some uncertainties. Clear expression but lacking critical depth. Application of concepts in familiar contexts.
24-26 Good project/work. Good command of the content, clear and coherent exposition. Ability to connect concepts and solve problems with a structured approach. Some independent insight.
27-29 Very good project/work. Excellent knowledge of the topics, confident and well-structured exposition. Strong analytical and synthesis skills. Good autonomy in applying methods and theories to complex contexts.
30-30L Excellent project/work. Outstanding mastery of the subject, brilliant and rigorous exposition. Ability to think independently and originally. Critical insight and innovative application of concepts.

Traditional lessons, internal and external workshops, design activities, participatory activities also in collaboration with external bodies

Due to the highly interactive and practice-oriented nature of the course, regular attendance at lessons is recommended.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Cities, infrastructure and social capital" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development