In April 2020, a course on Strategies for Spatial Development for the students of the Master in Urban Management and Development program was launched at the Graduate School of Management at St. Petersburg University (GSOM). The course is taught by Alexander Kholodnov, General Director of Urban Pro, a city research and sustainable development company.

 

As part of the course, students will learn about economic factors that influence the spatial development, urban development models, the development of public spaces, research tools for analyzing the urban environment, current trends and much more. The e-learning platform contributed to the search for new formats: in addition to lectures in the classroom, students will participate in a simulation game, where they develop suburban areas, trying their hands on the functions of city administrations, developers and modeling the needs of local residents.

 

“During the 9 lessons, we will be considering the processes of spatial development from different sides and use them actively in  a business game, where students make decisions on the development of the city and can see their results. As the theoretical material is mastered, the conditions of the game will also become more complicated…,” Alexander Kholodnov commented on the course.