U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons. Co-Creating European University Education

Abstract

Many cities in Europe deal with the same complex urban challenges, like poverty, migration, climate change, inequality and the energy transformation. Five universities of applied sciences have taken the initiative to develop an international, multidisciplinary lab about urban commons within the Urban Research and Education Knowledge Alliance (U!REKA). This publication, written by representatives of the universities, describes how in 5 years’ time the U!REKA Lab: Urban Commons has developed various online and offline classes, exchanges, Blended Intensive Programmes, lecture series, exhibitions and an innovative pedagogical framework. Teaching students from different cities and disciplines how commons can support them, now and as future professionals, in dealing with urban challenges and making the outcomes more human, democratic and sustainable, is a special mission of this European network.