Our department

All over the world, urban areas drive innovation, diversity and economic prosperity. However, rising social inequalities threaten the social and economic well-being of the population, and resource depletion, pollution and climate change lead to ecological vulnerabilities. Cities accommodate flows of people, resources and products, and cause the dynamics and complexity of the urban systems. Understanding these systems are crucial for the future of mankind.

We work towards understanding the behaviour of the urban world at all levels, and we provide the insights needed to make the transition towards a sustainable and liveable urban future. We educate future generations of geographers and planners that will contribute to this common sustainable urban future. We aim to advance geographical knowledge and literacy in society, enabling people to make informed choices and better understand and resolve current issues of ecological, social and economic sustainable transitions.

To achieve impact on our society, we aim at meaningful exchanges with and involvement of public and private stakeholders in the research, including communities, neighbourhood representatives and marginalised population groups. We contribute to the resolution of challenges related to social, economic and ecological sustainability in cities, in line with the 2030 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our research, education and societal impact emphasise the need for equity in creating just urban futures for communities across the globe.

To investigate multi-faceted urban issues in spatial planning, urban geography, economic geography and international development, we combine different specialisation fields. These specialisations are represented in the Sections in our programme.