SPACE, PLACE AND BELONGING - BUILDING STRONG AND INCLUSIVENEIGHBOURHOODS

Beyond a simple geographical boundary, what makes a space into a place, and a place into a strong and cohesive neighbourhood where people feel they belong?

From 4-7 July 2023, our highly interactive Summer School will bring early to mid career social housing professionals together with leading experts and their international peers to explore this critical question for our field. Participants will focus on a real-life challenge related to building social capital and cohesion at the neighbourhood level.

As we recover from the pandemic and as urgent climate targets drive rapid change in how we design and power our living environments, the attention of built-environment professionals is refocusing on the neighbourhood level of action. People’s ability to connect, share resources and support each other both face-to-face and online, is vital to their well-being, and to their ability to cope with difficulties and change. As long-term stewards of local communities, social landlords have an important role in helping to build social cohesion at the neighbourhood level. Through interactive workshops, site visits, and cutting-edge research on local energy communities, placemaking, health, wellbeing, migration and more, our summer school will explore both the spatial and the societal dimensions of neighbourhood cohesion in contemporary European cities.

Our student-professionals

Housing professionals from all backgrounds, including new starters and those with years of experience are encouraged to join in and learn together across national borders. Our multidimensional team challenge will require diverse skills across tenant engagement, neighbourhood development, ICT, social policy, green and smart construction and urban placemaking. Our school: We invite you to EBZ Business School campus in Bochum to meet fellow housing professionals, build up your personal network, and explore nearby cities and housing developments. Four exciting, fun, and rewarding days await you!

Our partners

The European Summer School is co-organised by EBZ Business School – University of Applied Sciences and EFL – the European Federation for Living in partnership with Housing Europe – the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing,
and the Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe IWO. Learn from each other, share your ideas, and be part of Europe!

Participation fee

The participation fee is €1.700,00 per person, members of the European Federation for Living enjoy a reduced price of €1.600,00 for any students they send. The participation fee includes accommodation, field trips, food and beverages during the program. You can also look forward to the following benefits of the Summer School: A BBQ buffet on the EBZ Campus and one night out in Bochum including dinner and visit of “Bochum Total” (street festival).