The TRUE Talents project has made a promising start: On Thursday, 17 October, Prof. Dr. Nancy Odendaal delivered a lecture to a group of 20 students from the School for Talents program and other guests. The topic was "KNOWLEDGE CO-PRODUCTION AND THE TRAINING OF URBAN PLANNERS AND PRACTITIONERS" in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. In doing so, she offered the students an inspiring introduction to their upcoming research stay in Cape Town. Professor Nancy Odendaal is a professor of urban studies at the African Centre for Cities, based at the African Centre for Cities in Cape Town in South Africa and the University of Basel in Switzerland. She is a trained urban planner and has developed her research profile at the intersection of technology, space and urban coexistence.
In light of the growing need for innovative solutions to complex urban problems, it is crucial for urban planners to collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders to tap into local knowledge and pool resources. This necessitates an approach that optimizes students' experiential learning and provides insights into the living conditions and needs of urban residents. Nancy Odendaal's presentation highlighted several initiatives and academic programs that address these challenges and pioneer new frontiers in education.
