Remaking Cities in a Global Age: Dilemmas of Urban Policy PUBPOL4034

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 1
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

In this course students consider the challenges faced by modern cities as they compete for success in a globalised world. Remaking Cities examines the role of urban policy in promoting competiveness and attracting talent, promoting social inclusion and cohesion, as well as shaping urban environments

Timetable

Weekly two hour class, with a mixture of lecture material, activities and problems to stimulate student learning, and student presentations

Requirements of Entry

Mandatory Entry Requirements

Entry to Honours Social & Public Policy normally requires a grade point average of 12 (grade C3) over Social & Public Policy 2A and 2B (formerly Public Policy 2A and 2B) as a first attempt.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

One 'take away' examination, to be completed within a period of two weeks (40%)

One written assignment of 2500 words (45%)

One five-minute oral presentation, accompanied by 4 slides (15%). This is 50% peer assessed and 50% lecturer assessed.

Main Assessment In: December

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

To consider theories of globalisation

To review the challenges faced by cities competing for success in a globalised world.

To examine the role of urban policy in tackling the challenges faced by cities.

To assess the role of policy in enhancing the economic competiveness and attractiveness of cities.

To assess the role of policy in promoting social inclusion and social cohesion in cities.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ understand the concept of globalisation as it affects cities

■ assess the challenges faced by diverse cities as they compete for economic position in the global economy

■ identify the underlying principles and objectives behind urban policy in Britain;

■ evaluate the links between explicit urban policy and other, functional or thematic policies, such as health, housing and economic development; 

■ demonstrate the ability to analyse the impact of urban policy on urban economies, urban society, the built environment and urban sustainability;

■ devise a persuasive oral presentation dissecting an urban policy case study;

■ construct a well written and critically informed report on specific aspects of urban policy.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.