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The group projects of the Urban School
The group project is at the heart of the pedagogy of all the Urban School's Masters programmes. Thanks to this original and highly professionalizing module, students respond to a real territorial issue posed by a public, private or associative organization.
For 5 to 9 months (following the master), each team of 4 to 5 students works under the supervision of an academic or professional tutor. Each project concludes with a presentation of the final results to the partner and at the Urban School's day in June each year, organised by our Lab. A written report is also produced, and innovative formats are sometimes proposed: an exhibition, a video, a seminar organisation, a public presentation of the results, a model, etc.
The Urban School strives to work on all the problems that contemporary societies may encounter in cities and territories: increasing inequalities, ecological transition, conflicts, cultural hybridizations, relations between governments and governed, collective choices and democracy, accumulation of data and technologies, pollution, financialization, etc. etc. The fields of study are therefore extremely varied.
Skills acquired
By engaging in their mission, students acquire solid knowledge in the design, implementation and evaluation of public policies, the development of complex urban and territorial projects, support for transitions (demographic, ecological, digital, etc.), citizen consultation, etc.
In parallel, they also develop fundamental professional skills:
- Project management
- Negotiation of content and reframing of projects
- Public speaking and effective presentation
- Time management
- Teamwork
- Archive organisation and document classification
- Budgeting and accountability of projects
Specific training courses are organised throughout the year: project management, RGPD, advanced mapping, etc.).
Testimonies: a formative and enriching experience
Léa Delmas, graduate of the master Regional and Urban Strategy, realised a project with ICF Habitat:
"The group project is a rare opportunity in an academic setting to get in touch with the workplace – its actors, its demands and the sort of attitude to adopt, which is different from a student's – yet with strong guidance from the tutor and academic staff, which enables us to make significant progress. For me, the group project is one of the main strengths of the Master's programme, as it is firmly rooted in the professional world and the issues of urban dynamics."
Élodie Parier, tutor:
"Very high standards and sustained work on a project over the whole academic year force students to outdo themselves. It is wonderful to see how far they come in nine months! Every time, I've felt the satisfaction of having played a part in the students' growth, as they are placed in a professional situation as much to hone their soft skills as their expertise."
The Group projects partners: actors of a unique educational experience
Practical experience plays a pivotal role in the Urban School's Master's programmes. The projects that punctuate the programme require students to organise as a group to respond to a partner's commission in real-world conditions. They prepare students for the constraints of professional practice, teach them to work as a team, and provide a constantly intense student experience.
For the commissioning organisations, it is a way to participate directly in acquainting future graduates with reality. Partnerships are open to all types of public and private organisations and can take many forms:
Who can propose a group project?
Any actor of the city and territories can propose a project. For example, we have worked with local authorities, companies, associations, Ngos, consultancy firms, development and urban planning agencies, state administrations and international institutions.
See the list of group projects 2024-2025.
Find out more
- Call for group projects 2025-2026
- Call for group projects 2024-2025
- Call for group projects 2023-2024
- Call for group projects 2022-2023
Contacts
Ilaria Milazzo, Executive Director of the Urban School
Cyriel Pelletier, Academic Advisor of the Master Governing the Large Metropolis
