Stela Hristova

Stela Hristova - Student Urban Governance
I believe that there is no better place to learn about innovative governance approaches for tackling complex urban issues than the Netherlands, and especially the city of Rotterdam

Stela Hristova

Alumna Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities

After finishing my bachelor degree in Economics, I wanted to follow a master programme where I could combine my interest for public policy, sustainability and economics. The Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities master programme at Erasmus University Rotterdam was the perfect choice - cities face complex social, economic and environmental challenges and studying how those can be tackled requires a multidisciplinary approach, innovative decision-making and implementation.

One of the most interesting features of the programme is that it is a collaboration between Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, which means that students get the opportunity to learn from leading scholars and professionals actively involved in researching and finding solutions for urban challenges. Through the programme students gain knowledge about the latest theoretical developments in the field of urban governance, while also acquiring practical experience and competences through simulations, fieldwork and study trips. During the urban governance labs for example, we worked on various case studies and focused on developing essential personal skills. In addition, the governance lab culminated in a real-life advisory project: we had the opportunity to consult the Utrecht Region which was an exciting and challenging task. I appreciated the opportunity to experience how advisory work is done and to meet and talk to urban professionals. Another important aspect of the programme which I value highly is the variety of course assignments that touch upon different disciplines, thus creating the opportunity to familiarize with the most relevant topics in urban governance from different perspectives. The fact that I studied together with people with diverse backgrounds and nationalities made the whole experience even more interesting and enriching.

Finally, I believe that there is no better place to learn about innovative governance approaches for tackling complex urban issues than the Netherlands, and especially the city of Rotterdam, which is often used as a source of inspiration by other cities with regards to novel social and environmental policies, and actions for promoting the circular economy.

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