GCRO presents at WC2 Summer Symposium in Germany

In the lead up to the 2016 UN Habitat III conference, the WC2 Network (World class universities in world cities) met for the annual Summer Symposium to engage around the role of universities in addressing key urban issues, and in particular the new urban agenda. Five GCRO staff members attended the WC2 Summer Symposium, which took place in Berlin, Germany from the 8th to the 12th of August 2016. The intention of the symposium was to convene the WC2 network, made up of universities from across the world, to explore the theme: 'Universities as actors: Towards the New urban agenda'. This agenda is the key focus of the 2016 UN Habitat III conference, to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016.

GCRO Executive Director, Dr. Rob Moore has represented the University of the Witwatersrand in this network prior to him joining the GCRO in early 2016. At the 2016 symposium he presented a paper to the 'Global Cultures' theme entitled 'Institutionalising a city-region: Knowledge for urban futures', where he used the GCRO as an example of an effective university-city relationship.

Christina Culwick also participated in a panel discussion in the opening ceremony which focused on the role of universities in supporting cities to make progress towards the 'New urban agenda' and the new Sustainable Development Goals.

Darlington Mushongera, Christina Culwick, Aidan Mosselson and Mncedisi Siteleki were awarded travel bursaries to attend the symposium, and each participated in a group work project that creatively explored the theme of the conference. Their projects included producing a game, a photo essay, and a website, which will in time be accessible via the WC2 website.

Photographs for this news item copyright ©Jacek Ruta