Futures of Asian Cities

- Urban planning and lifestyles in China and India

5 ECTS

Organisers: University of Turku, the Finnish University Network for Asian Studies, and the Finland Futures Academy

Instructors: Outi Luova, Centre for East Asian Studies, UTU; Sari Söderlund, Finland Futures Academy, Finland Futures Research Centre , UTU.

Registration Period:
9.1.-22.1.2012

Course Duration:
30.1.-27.4.2012

Goals: The students will be able to analyze major trends and challenges of sustainable developments in urban China and India. The course will also provide the students general skills in the methods of futures research: how to select futures research targets and methods, apply futures studies methods and conduct futures research. After the course students know how to generate futures scenarios.

Content: The course is focused on the core issues of urban sustainable development in China and India. The course provides you with tools to analyze the current and future urban developments of two Asian giants: China and India. Because of their massive population and increasing importance in world economy and politics, this knowledge is essential for the evaluation of the sustainable development of the whole world. The course addresses the issues of urban planning and changing urban lifestyles and analyses the possibilities for sustainable development with the help of futures research methods.

Taken as:

1. Literature and lecture exam
The goal of this exam is to provide background information about the methods of futures studies and the urbanization process in China and India. The exam prepares students for the scenario working.

- One of these books:
a) Indian Cities in Transition. Edited by Annapurna Shaw, 2007, pages 1-259.
b) The Great urban Transformation. Politics of Land and Property in China. You-tien Hsing, 2010.

- and this book: Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation. Kees van der Heijden, 2 edition 2005

- and two obligatory online lectures: one on India and one on China

2. Scenario working in small groups. Based on online lectures on the methods of futures studies and five short assignments, students compile a scenario report either on China or India (ca 20 pages). During the scenario process teachers give comments and guidance to the students.

SCHEDULE

Literature and lecture exams

Scenario working
19 March - 4 April: five lectures and related assignments

Easter holidays

11 - 27 April: complete the Scenario Report

Target Group: Students of the universities that are members of the University Network for Asian Studies or the Finland Futures Academy are eligible to apply. The course is recommended for advanced level (MA) students.

Note that only the students of the member universities can take this course for free. The study fee for students from other Finnish universities is 50 euro per credit.

Grading: The exam is assessed in the scale 1-5 and counts for 1/3 of the final grade. The scenario report is assessed in the scale 1-5 and counts for 2/3 of the final grade.

Application for the course: Application period has ended.

Meanwhile please visit our webpages for other MA-level courses on Asia.

Before enrolling on the course the students should check with their own home department that this course can be accepted as part of their degree in their own university.