Cities Migration and Socio-Spatial Inequality

International migration flows create a large array of integration challenges (language, education, employment, housing, social cohesion) in cities and neighbourhoods. Increasing population diversity coincides with growing socio-economic deprivation and patterns of socio-spatial segregation. Deepening divides and growing social inequality within and between cities and neighbourhoods are generally considered as undesirable and harmful towards life opportunities and social mobility of individual people. Increasing diversity also triggers questions in relation to national and urban identities, and even identities of neighbourhoods. This is reflected in the rise of populist parties and movements across Europe.

Consequences of social inequality and diversity manifest themselves on the level of cities and neighbourhoods. These consequences pose challenges to the planning, (re)design and management of neighbourhoods, in particular housing, public space, and facilities. Consider for example the management and restructuring of declining urban neighbourhoods, redevelopment of vacant office buildings into temporary shelters, and (re)design of public space in ‘super-diverse’ areas.

Such challenges cannot be solved with just design and engineering approaches. Understanding the intricate nature of socio-spatial inequality, migration and diversity in cities and neighbourhoods, and being able to develop planning, design and governance strategies requires a multi-, inter- or even trans-disciplinary perspective. This encompasses knowledge of international trends and developments, as well as geographical, sociological, planning and public administration perspectives on social inequality, spatial justice, migration, identity and diversity, their impact on urban and neighbourhood life, urban and neighbourhood design and their policy implications.

The CMSI-minor enables students to:

• develop an interdisciplinary perspective on socio-spatial inequality, spatial justice, migration, identity and diversity, including urban geography, sociology, urban planning and design, and public administration;
• acquire a methodological understanding which is essential to correctly analyse socio-spatial inequality, spatial justice, migration, identity and diversity and their consequences on various spatial levels;
• create (strategic) plans with socio-spatial strategies for intervention;
• assess the planning, governance and design implications of socio-spatial inequality, migration and diversity at the urban and neighbourhood level.

The minor offers two additional (facultative) sessions that will offer students hands-on support with the writing and presenting elements in the minor, and will train students in presenting their review paper or project report.

Interactive lectures, literature review paper, research and strategy design, site visits, and interviews with professionals.

Check the detailed overview of courses, learning activities and study load at https://www.studyguide.tudelft.nl/

Registration for this thematic minor is on a first-come, first-served basis and available places. (No lottery draw).

This minor is intended for students who are highly motivated to develop an interdisciplinary perspective on socio-spatial inequality, spatial justice, migration, diversity, identity, and spatial design. You must have a passion for social scientific research and combine a strong academic curiosity with a determination to apply interdisciplinary knowledge in real-life situations of complex urban planning and design cases in the Netherlands.

Student at Leiden University, TU Delft or Erasmus University Rotterdam?
Check the eligibility matrix to see if your bachelor’s degree programme offers access to this and other minors at https://www.tudelft.nl/minor.

• BSc students from TU Delft: BSc programme of Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences, Civil Engineering, Technology, Policy, and Management, and Industrial Design.

• BSc students from Leiden University and Erasmus University: students from Public Administration and Sociology at the Erasmus University and students following the interdisciplinary bachelor programme Urban Studies at Leiden University (Faculty of Humanities). For all BSc programmes from Leiden University and Erasmus University with which you can apply for this minor please check the eligibility matrix.

Student at another educational institution?
External students cannot register via EduXchange. Interested in this minor, read the whole registration procedure at https://www.tudelft.nl/minor.

• BSc students from other Dutch universities: students with backgrounds in human geography or urban planning (Amsterdam, Nijmegen, Utrecht) and urban sociology (Amsterdam, Utrecht).

• BSc students from HBO: this minor is not open to HBO students.

For information about the courses, visit the TU Delft study guide.
For additional information on this minor, visit the TU Delft minor page.