Habitat Partner Universities: Strengthening Urban Research through Centres of Excellence and an International Urban Research Network
Call for Expression of Interest (EOI)
Habitat Partner University (HPU) Initiative The 21st century is the urban century. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, and the world continues to rapidly urbanize. 90 percent of this growth is taking place in the developing world. Many of these cities lack the capacity to harness their potential for economic growth and to manage and direct urbanization on a sustainable path. They suffer the negative effects of rapid urbanization, and become vulnerable to global phenomena such as economic instability, food insecurity, resource depletion and climate change. If cities are to come to terms with these challenges, they require leaders, managers and staff capable of adopting innovative and robust approaches to planning, developing, managing and financing sustainable urban development for all citizens.
Universities have the human capital and knowledge resources to contribute to positive change towards sustainable urban development. There are many good examples of what universities can do in helping cities solve their complex problems and realize their development potential. There are a range of innovations such as industry‐university links, local knowledge arenas involving universities, curricula development responding to new and complex issues of sustainability, university networks to pool resources around common research themes, etc. However these are still emerging practices. In many countries, the research and training priorities of universities are not in line with the emerging priorities for sustainable urban development. At the same time, the findings of university research are not being mainstreamed amongst practitioners, and the knowledge acquired by university staff is often not being mainstreamed in the university curricula and thus future urban practitioners are not sufficiently exposed to these key issues.
In response, UN‐HABITAT has embarked on strengthening links with universities through its Habitat Partner University (HPU) initiative. The Habitat Partner University initiative focuses on three components of the Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD‐Net) ‐ Education, Training and Research. It aims at enlarging cooperation between UN‐HABITAT and institutions of higher education, as well as facilitating exchange and cooperation between universities in developing and developed nations.
Requirement
- Advanced university degrees (preferably PhD) in Urban Planning, Economics, Development Studies, Public and Business Administration, Communications, Training and Education or another field deemed relevant to the subject areas covered in the Expression of Interest.
- More than 15 years of relevant experience (with at least 10 years at the international level or with international partners).
- Demonstrated and documented experience in research and knowledge networks especially involving academic institutions, and international organizations both in the North and South.
- Capacity to develop, package and promote practical and global strategic plans for programme implementation.
Contact information
Mr. Bernhard Barth
P.O. Box 30030
Nairobi 00100 Kenya
Telephone: +254 ‐20‐7624883
Fax: +254‐20‐7623092
Email: Bernhard.Barth@unhabitat.org
P.O. Box 30030
Nairobi 00100 Kenya
Telephone: +254 ‐20‐7624883
Fax: +254‐20‐7623092
Email: Bernhard.Barth@unhabitat.org
Moreinfo:
http://www.unhabitat.org/content.asp?cid=7834&catid=567&typeid=58&subMenuId=0
