Join a CAT student teaching week and explore how we can create fairer more sustainable cities and the systematic factors that influence environmental, political, economic and policy strategies that shape cities.

Through a series of lectures, discussions, and practical activities you will learn alongside our postgraduate students on our MSc courses on Sustainability and Adaptation, Sustainability in Energy Provision and Demand Management, Green Building, Sustainable Food and Natural Resources, Sustainability and Ecology, and Sustainability and Behaviour Change. 

You will experience what it might be like to study on one of our postgraduate courses at CAT and gain invaluable knowledge and skills around strategies for planning for just and sustainable cities and communities. 

Key Information 

• Duration: five days 
• Upcoming dates: Monday 2 December – Friday 6 December 
• Start and finish times: starts at 9am and ends at 3pm on the last day 
• Fees: £700 
• Includes: tuition, all materials, lunch
• Please note that accommodation is NOT available at CAT for this course.
• What to bring: good boots and waterproof clothing is advised 
• Terms and Conditions: 
  • You must be 18 years or over to attend our courses. 
  • For full list of terms and conditions click here 

Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance for joining the course at the end of the week. You will not be able to do the final assessment and this will not count toward any accreditation. If attendees wish to enrol on a postgraduate course at CAT and take the module within their future course, they will be able to receive a discount on tuition costs. 

Who is this course aimed at?  

This week is aimed at people who wish to have a taster of studying at postgraduate level at CAT and want to delve into the factors that influence environmental, political, economic and policy  strategies and what we can do to create fairer, more sustainable urban environments. 

What you will learn 

On this short course, participants will be introduced to the complexities of cities and communities, their local and global interconnections, and how these shape the task of creating sustainable cities.

Topics covered include: 

• The production of urban and community spaces and places today. 
• Climate and ecological breakdown, cities, and their interconnections at different spatial levels. 
• Interdisciplinary approaches to transformation in cities and communities. 
• Environmental and climate justice and injustice in urban settings. 
• Urban specific design, planning, and processes of transformation and regeneration in the built environment. 
• Social, political, ecological, and cultural implications of sustainability transitions and transformations of space and infrastructures. 
• Community based and grassroots initiatives. 
• Urban resistances, reclamations, and reproductions of space. 

How will I learn 

Through pre-reading and some pre-recorded introductory lectures, live in person lectures, discussions, group activities and practical activities at CAT.

This short course is part of the teaching week for the MSc module Cities and Communities. Please be aware there may be some activities and content during the week only available to students, where an activity isn’t appropriate for the short course attendee, we will endeavour to arrange a replacement activity.

Meet your tutor 

Dr Sam Saville

Sam is a Senior Lecturer at CAT’s Graduate School. She is a geographer with specialisms in value systems, nature-culture relations, polar and rural regions, globalization and participative research.

Bryce Gilroy-Scott

Bryce is a Senior Lecturer at CAT’s Graduate School. He has an extensive background in sustainable architecture and along with being a CAT lecturer, works as a consultant with a focus on building energy modelling, renewable energy.

Other tutors and lecturers 

Alongside the module leader and expert Graduate School staff, teaching sessions are led by a range of guest speakers and lecturers currently working in the sector and academia who join students on-site or through live streams.