GLOBAL STUDIO
July 1-18, 2007, Wits University, Johannesburg
Students of the city building professions and related areas will work
collaboratively in teams with local communities to develop propositions and
strategies that can assist in improving people’s lives, while developing
knowledge and skills in this area of work.
Who should apply?
Students in the city building and related disciplines with an interest in
participatory design and planning processes, urban poverty alleviation and
international work.
Global Studio context
The South African Cities Network Report Report highlights four strategies for
cities. They must be inclusive, well governed, productive and sustainable.
These are issues Global Studio and People Building Better Cities will take
up in a number of different ways in Global Studio 2007. As the 2010 Fifa
World Cup approaches major projects are underway, including efforts to ‘green’ the public transport system. With the billions of viewers, as well
as visitors to the Cup, Fifa aims ‘not to disappoint’.
Yet as is well known
many people live in shacks and settlements. Adopting a participatory
approach Global Studio will work with the City of Johannesburg, local wards
and communities with the aim of contributing to the four strategies in small
but localised ways in Alexandria and Diepsloot - Johannesburg
Global Studio is open to students in the city building and related
professions (e.g architecture, planning, landscape architecture,
engineering, industrial design, community development, law), and aims for a
balance between developed and developing countries. Senior students with at
least one more semester of study to complete are preferred. Global Studio alumni cannot apply .
Applications
Application requirements can be found the applications page.
Credit
Global Studio can be taken for credit, providing there is home institution approval. Details can be provided to home institutions.
Funding
Students will be expected to raise funds for Global Studio through their schools or other sources. Some scholarships will also be available through Global Studio, based on merit and need. Intending applicants are encouraged to begin their fund raising for travel to Johannesburg now. Global Studio scholarship applications can be made following acceptance. Global Studio has around 20 scholarships for students from developing countries.
Up to 72 students will be accepted and all students will be required to undertake a fair amount of reading prior to Global Studio in order to prepare themselves for the context, culture and specific projects. An interview with Alistair Sparks , author of Beyond the Miracle- South Africa: Ten Years after Apartheid provides some insights into the period 1994-2004.
Students will attend People Building Better Cities, and are expected to stay at the Jubilee Residence at Wits University. The studio program will include a trip to Maputo or Durban.
Post Global Studio opportunity
Global Studio outcomes will be presented by selected students at the Rockefeller Foundation Innovations for an Urban World Summit, Bellagio, Italy July 20-23. Funding is available to those selected.
