3-step learning process for cities and regions
The elected representatives from cities and regions across Europe will participate in a 3-step learning process which will include:
- Participation in the OPEN DAYS Read more.
- Participation in on-site visits to cities in order to get valuable examples of integrated sustainable urban development (March-May 2013)
- Participation in the wrap-up seminar in Brussels to draw up the
lessons learned and exchange acquired knowledge (June 2013)
In total, 100 elected representatives have been selected for the programme, 16 of which will visit Rotterdam and The Hague during the 2nd step of the learning process in April 2013. The representatives will learn about EU cohesion policy, strengthen interaction and mutual learning and increase their ability to implement integrated approaches to sustainable local and regional development.
Polycentric metropolitan area Rotterdam The Hague
The 16 elected representatives from cities and regions across Europe, from Spain to Finland and Malta to Slovenia, will especially visit Rotterdam and The Hague because it is an excellent example of a polycentric metropolitan area. In this very urbanized area the ‘large’ cities of Rotterdam and The Hague (620,000 and 500,000 inhabitants) lie only 15 kilometres apart. The representatives will:
- be introduced to the concept of Polycentrism
- experience the public transport route (i.e. ‘RandstadRail’) and
- see how the two cities differ in their Smart Specialisation
Strategies
EMI, in collaboration with the Delft University of Technology and P.A.U. Education, will prepare this site visit and will of course publish more about this event on the website in April 2013.
More information on the Erasmus Preparatory Action
Depending on the success and evaluation of the Erasmus Preparatory Action for local and regional elected representatives, this learning programme might continue as of 2014. For more information on this initiative and the site visit please contact Ries Kamphof and visit the p.a.u. education-website. If you would like to learn more about Polycentric Metropolitan Areas in Europe, please contact Marloes Hoogerbrugge.