TEDI-London students innovate sustainable transport solutions

Today we had the official kick-off of the Blended Intensive Programme Urban Transformation and Public Safety in Rotterdam. 🎉 Cities are constantly redeveloping, preparing for the challenges of tomorrow. The decisions we make today – about housing, public space, mobility, and sustainability – will shape how safe, liveable, and inclusive our urban environments will be in the future. This is why it is crucial to equip students and professionals with evidence-based methods. In our programme, 45 students from Norway, Portugal, and Italy learn and apply a unique multi-scalar research approach:  - Macro-scale analyses of urban structures and networks,  - Micro-scale studies of entrances, intervisibility, and street dynamics,  - Nano-scale socio-visual analyses of how people perceive and experience space. By layering these methods, students uncover how design choices influence everyday life – from social interaction to perceptions of safety.  In Rotterdam’s #Rijnhaven, one of Europe’s most ambitious redevelopment sites, they put these tools into practice. This is not just academic exercise: it is about preparing a new generation of urban professionals to make cities more resilient, liveable, and inclusive. "Cities are laboratories of change – and learning how to analyse them is key to shaping a better future." #UrbanTransformation #PublicSafety #SpatialAnalysis #Erasmus+ #Rotterdam  Inholland University of Applied Sciences Universidade do Porto Università di Pisa Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Gemeente Rotterdam Photo: Robert Lagendijk

Public space works best when it belongs to everyone. 🤝 Common spaces are the city’s shared living rooms, the streets, small parks, waterfront edges, and in-between places where daily life happens. They are bottom-up places, shaped by everyday users through co-creation, self-organization, and local stewardship. When design and governance enable this energy, common spaces foster co-presence, informal care, collective efficacy, and a grounded sense of safety. That is why we bring students into these places. Future city makers need clear, evidence-based methods to read spaces, test light-touch interventions, and evaluate what improves liveability, inclusion, and safety. Today, students from Norway, Portugal, and Italy – participating in the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme Urban Transformation and Public Safety (BIP) - explored Rotterdam’s Hefpark. In mixed international teams, they carried out place-reading walks, mapped uses, edges, and sightlines, and shared a structured on-site lunch to exchange perspectives. The result was mutual understanding and a sense of shared ownership, the very conditions that sustain bottom-up CPTED outcomes such as natural surveillance, positive territoriality, and everyday stewardship. #UrbanTransformation #PublicSafety #SpatialAnalysis #ErasmusPlus #Rotterdam  Inholland University of Applied Sciences Universidade do Porto Università di Pisa Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Gemeente Rotterdam

A New Campus for Rotterdam Neighboring Delft University of Technology is exploring a phased presence in the city—projected to grow to ~10,000 students and ~3,500 staff across one or more locations over time. The City of #Rotterdam asked REGENALYZE to examine how a new campus can deliver maximum value for the city—and what Europe’s best examples can teach us. We assessed the campus through five lenses: 🏭 Engine for enterprise, the economy & innovation ♻️ Partner on societal challenges 🎓 Magnet for talent—local and international 🌱 Driver of social impact 🏗️ Catalyst for inclusive area development We also addressed governance: • What’s needed to maximize positive impact? • How should city–university collaboration be organized? Our benchmarks include #Aachen, #Cardiff, #Dublin, #Exeter, #Ghent, #Lausanne, and #Trondheim. Read the full findings here: https://lnkd.in/eHDFUvJk #UrbanInnovation #KnowledgeEconomy #Rotterdam #TUDelft #InnovationDistricts #CampusDevelopment EUniverCities Network Jamie Cudden Andy Dean Marc de Perrot Netwerk Kennissteden Nederland (NKN) Platform31 URBACT European Urban Initiative Börje Wichert Rasmus C. Beck André Sobczak Krista Kampus Arturo Lorenzoni Alessandro Costa Peter Austin Alessandro Bernazzoli Innovation District Copenhagen Rachel Xiang Feng

🏗️ Exciting milestone for student living in Manchester! Viridis Living, a consortium of GRAHAM Group, Equitix, and Derwent fm, has worked closely with the The University of Manchester, Manchester City Council and the local community and key stakeholders to secure Reserved Matters Planning Approval for the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus. On behalf of the consortium, GRAHAM led the planning process in collaboration with the University, architects Sheppard Robson and planning consultants Deloitte. The redevelopment will deliver up to 3,300 sustainable, high-quality student homes across five vibrant neighbourhoods, targeting Passivhaus and BREEAM Excellent standards. This is a significant step forward in creating inclusive, wellbeing-focused spaces for future generations. Click here for the full story: https://lnkd.in/e5Gj6H7P Neil McFarlane John McDonald #pbsa #studentaccommodation #highereducation #passivhaus

Last week, more than 200 students from the Global Impact Diploma at AISB, Lycée Français Anna de Noailles - Bucarest, Mark Twain International School, Internationale Deutsche Schule Bukarest, British School of Bucharest, Cambridge School of Bucharest, Little London International Academy, and Avenor College filled a hall with energy and ideas at the Time to Play Urban Conference. The stage belonged to them. They spoke about traffic that steals hours of their week, about wanting safer ways to walk or cycle, and about cities that should give children more freedom, more play, and more well-being. Inspired by the “15-minute city” of Paris and Jan Gehl’s call for “cities for people”, their vision was clear: schools and streets should be designed around human needs, not cars. The organisers shared the next step: creating an Urbanism Club, where students from different schools will continue to work together, debate ideas, and propose concrete solutions. Because when children are heard, the whole community benefits in their daily lives.

For 45 years now, rectors and presidents of Europe’s leading science and technology universities have been coming together in an informal “ideas forum” to develop new perspectives and discuss the most pressing challenges. This time, we gathered at Wrocław University of Science and Technology to share experiences on how we are working towards climate neutrality and sustainable urban development. After all, it is precisely universities of technology that guide cities on this path – by educating future engineers and scientists, conducting cutting-edge research, and fostering innovation. As Wrocław University of Science and Technology Rector Prof. Arkadiusz Wójs emphasized in his welcome: “The world’s greatest challenges require coordinated and decisive action. As technical universities, we are not only obliged to research these issues, but also to set an example of how to respond to them.” Our Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Remigijus Šalna, presented how we implement sustainability in practice: showcasing the work of our Sustainability Centre laboratories, study programmes and qualification courses, research projects, the development of new materials, building structures and green technologies, joint initiatives with the city municipality, as well as investments in advanced sustainable infrastructure – solar power plants, building management systems, and more. Prof. Dr. Prof. Gintaras Stauskis from the Department of Urban Design shared insights on smart planning for climate-neutral cities. He highlighted ecological, social, and economic challenges faced by modern cities, along with methods to address them – such as nature-based solutions at the city and regional scale, or the “sponge city” approach where rain and meltwater are absorbed across the urban landscape. Among the inspiring case studies was the Paupys district in Vilnius. Our key recommendation for future studies: developing interdisciplinary skills, fostering humanistic values among technical students, and cultivating collaborative creativity. Together with colleagues, we also discussed sustainable construction materials and energy-saving technologies, advanced heating, cooling, and “smart building” systems, the application of AI and modeling for system optimization, and global standards for building and infrastructure certification. Beyond exchanging knowledge, participants worked in task groups to design practical solutions for the future development of higher education and to map out the long-term directions for technical universities. Many thanks to Prof. Arkadiusz Wójs and crp coordinator Harald Kainz for the warm welcome and excellently organized conference, and to every speaker for the valuable insights!

As a proud partner of the University of East London, Chris Griffin, Founder & CEO of Hover Energy, recognises UEL’s unique approach to preparing students for the world of work. Chris shares: “My connection to UEL originally came through The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, and what I love about that is that we all have the same vision.” That shared vision includes UEL’s commitment to sustainability. UEL is working to become the most sustainable university in London, with a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2030. The Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability serves as a hub for sustainable businesses, skills and communities across east London, while partnerships with organisations are helping deliver innovative solutions. This year, we’re honoured to be shortlisted for University of the Year, a reflection of our careers-first mission and our commitment to innovation, employability, sustainability and student success. At UEL, partnerships with industry leaders like Chris help us deliver the UEL Careers Guarantee, ensuring our students graduate future-ready. #UELInnovatorsOfTomorrow #UELForAll #UEL1898

Kingston University is making positive progress in the first year of its Travel Plan, thanks to a significant shift among the campus community towards more sustainable transport modes. 🚗✅ 31.9 per cent of Kingston University staff now drive to work alone – down from 38.2 per cent in 2023. https://lnkd.in/eaANNa_E

Could university real estate managers understand better how their buildings are being used? In the EU 18.8 million students learn in different universities annually. University campuses are comprising of tens of buildings with different type of spaces. Since Covid-19, it is not only the office commuters who are eager to operate from home, it is students too.  Having actual data on the building occupancy trends, makes it possible to optimise the spaces and the level of services needed for these spaces. Whether it is the taxes or the tuition fees that cover the university campus costs, are we choosing today the right technologies to help efficiently managing the buildings?

🏗️ Planning milestone achieved at University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus! ✔️ Equitix, as part of the VIRIDIS LIVING consortium alongside GRAHAM Building and Derwent fm, is pleased to announce that Planning Consent has been granted for the redevelopment of the University of Manchester’s Fallowfield Campus. 🏫 This transformative project will deliver up to 3,300 high-quality, sustainable student homes, designed around five distinct neighbourhoods inspired by Manchester’s cultural heritage. With a strong focus on student wellbeing, sustainability, and Modern Methods of Construction, the scheme targets Passivhaus certification and a BREEAM Excellent rating.   👩🎓 We’re proud to support the University in delivering long-term social infrastructure that meets the evolving needs of students and the wider community. Ben Leech, Managing Director, Investments at Equitix, said: “We’re pleased to see that the next stage of planning approvals for the University of Manchester’s new student accommodation has moved forward at pace. This important project will deliver much needed, high-quality, sustainable housing that keeps student wellbeing at its heart and reflects our commitment to long-term social infrastructure investment.” 🏗️ Construction begins in early 2026, with phased handovers through to 2030. Congratulations to the Equitix team who continue to work hard behind the scenes on this fantastic project, including Transaction Lead Tristan Meredith. #Infrastructuretolife #Studentliving #SocialInfrastructure #Passivhaus #UniversityOfManchester