The Student City: Strategic Planning for Student Communities in EU Cities (EURICUR Series

by Leo van den Berg, Leo van den Berg

Student communities are without doubt a strategic resource for urban development and students are the citizens and the high-skilled working class of tomorrow. They are seen as an 'invisible population' with little say in local policy and decision-making. Co-operation between educational institutions and city planners is often missing and cities tend to neglect the universities' foreign relations. This volume argues that the importance of human capital in the competitiveness of cities demands pro-active, integral city policies targeting this community. Bringing together nine case studies of European cities (Rotterdam, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Munich, Lyon, Lille, Venice, Birmingham and Helsinki), it puts forward a comprehensive strategic plan of action, aiming at the integration of student communities in urban development. The book analyses the essential characteristics of the relationship between students and their host communities, as well as the role of higher education institutions and other actors in building the 'student friendly' city.

Hardcover

First published November 10, 2004

About the author

Professor Dr Leo van den Berg is director of EURICUR. Since EURICUR's foundation he has been involved in many research projects, dealing with topics such as the governance of metropolitan regions, organising capacity, urban tourism and private-sector involvement in city development. He got his Master degree in spatial economics in 1972 and his doctoral degree in 1985, both at Erasmus University. Leo van den Berg is also director of the Unit Regional, Port and Transport Economics within the Department for Applied Economis at the Erasmus School of Economics and he is scientific director of various master courses.