About this Course

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This course teached the basics of urban planning in Africa through technical, environmental, social and economical dimensions.
It focuses on African cities only. Although, they exemplify well cities in the Global South, and potentially all cities, we will make the African context highly topical.

The course is provided by the Urban and Regional community at the Swiss Federal Insitute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). More information can be found here https://ceat.epfl.ch/

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 40 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese (European)

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 40 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese (European)

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.75/5 (5 Ratings)

Jérôme Chenal

Dr

Faculté de l'Environnement Naturel, Architectural et Construit - ENAC

23,145 Learners

5 Courses

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

1

Week 1

5 hours to complete

Introduction to African Cities and Urban Planning (Part I)

The state of urbanized zones. What are the big issues and challenges? A first approach to urban planning.

5 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 68 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

Week

2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Introduction to African Cities and Urban Planning (Part 2)

Following the first week, we will continue to explore African cities by their issues, the challenges they represent, and the urban models which they are issued.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 54 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Urban Themes

Urban planning relies on tools in order to organize transportation, amenities, spaces, and housing. The result is a channeling of urban forms.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 48 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

Week

4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Urban Functions

Here we will learn to establish subdivisions step by step.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 61 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week

5

Week 5

3 hours to complete

Urban Planning and its Tools

Cities finance themselves; They require resources which are acquired through diverse means.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 78 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

6

Week 6

3 hours to complete

The Future of Cities, or How to Plan?

Combating climate change and changing our manners of making the city

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 72 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week

7

Week 7

3 hours to complete

Tool and Methods

Governing contemporary African cities

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 45 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

8

Week 8

2 hours to complete

The Actions of Operational Urbanism : Subdivisions

The zones which are the most important in contemporary African cities are subdivisions, so we will dedicate an entire week covering it.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 71 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

9

Week 9

3 hours to complete

The Actions of Operational Urbanism: Restructuring and Urban Projects

This week, we will plunge into the heart of precarious zones in trying to understand their role in the city.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 53 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

10

Week 10

3 hours to complete

The Costs and Funding of Cities

Financing of the city, addressing, and land registry

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week

11

Week 11

2 hours to complete

Governance: Which Partnerships?

This week will be composed of a first part dealing with methodology and a second part on urban governance.

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 43 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

Week

12

Week 12

7 hours to complete

Conclusions

Measuring the real impact of planning on urban functions; Synthesis and reminders; Conclusions

7 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 88 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.7

6 reviews

5 stars
66.66%
4 stars
33.33%

TOP REVIEWS FROM AFRICAN CITIES : AN INTRODUCTION TO URBAN PLANNING

by CCJul 4, 2020

I really enjoyed this introduction. It was very thorough and productive, giving the course taker good insights and structure on the world of urban planning particularly in the global south.

by FDApr 10, 2021

How to front real problems with uncertainty. Please highly recommended to follow all 4 courses series. Please when are you going to publish next series with smart cities and other issues?

by ASJun 26, 2020

very tough course to complete specially the last Quiz assignment

View all reviews

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African cities : An Introduction to Urban Planning