Event: Developing Local Economies through Inclusive Policies and Planning

CEU Summer University: Developing Local Economies through Inclusive Policies and Planning

This Summer School offers the opportunity to learn the principles, strategies and applied skills necessary to equip policy makers and practitioners to be able to design, implement and measure participatory and inclusive local economic development (LED) enabling environments, policies, strategies and projects. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever that every possible lever is used to improve growth and economic inclusiveness and accountability. This course will share local economic development strategies, tools and instruments that participants will be able to use to improve their sub-national economies.

This is the first course of its kind run by the Central European University and offers global best in class faculty who are not promoting any specific 'tied' approach to LED. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach starting with a distance learning familiarization component, which will comprise a number of readings and opportunities to share knowledge. The main component is a two-week residential course based in Budapest, Hungary.

The first week's main focus will be on understanding the intellectual underpinnings of participatory local economic development, concepts and tools. The second week will be more concerned with practical application, case studies and debates and accountability activities. Every day will comprise a mix of Plenary sessions and Practice labs providing a lively mixture of activities including seminars, workshops, presentations, discussions, case studies, team work, quizzes, debates, worked examples from across the world, assignments and 'afternoon sofa conversations'. Participants will be offered a choice between two elective thematic events:

(i) A Master-class on LED in oil, gas and mining-rich areas - How to maximize opportunities and minimize threats to Local Economies or a (ii) A Master-Class - Nuts and Bolts of Implementing Local Economic Development projects.

All participants will undertake a Study tour in Hungary, and students before the programme and graduates after will have access to and opportunities to contribute to a permanent on-line knowledge hub and remain networked with this class and further classes.

The course aims to attract participants from across the world and across different organizations to maximize peer to peer learning and exchange. 

To apply for the summer school click here.