Before entering the Urban School in Sciences Po, I completed a Bachelor's Degree in Global Governance at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. The interdisciplinarity of my studies allowed me to touch on different topics and challenges related to governance, making me realize that I wanted to focus on the urban level, given my long-standing fascination for cities and my aspiration to help shape more effective local governance. During my exchange semester at the Universidad Torcuato di Tella in Buenos Aires, I gained a deeper understanding of the realities of living in a large metropolis. This was also possible thanks to the Social Action Club of my host university, through which I took part in events aimed at providing scholastic support to children living in Villa 31, one of the city’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The glaring social and spatial inequalities I could witness had a strong impact on me and gave me further confirmation of my academic vocation for urban studies.

The quality of teaching is very high: professors are very prepared and make their classes interactive, sparking our interest and helping us develop critical thinking skills. During the first semester, I found the class on Housing and Land, taught by Professor Sukriti Issar, extremely interesting and helpful, since, beyond providing us with knowledge about housing-related policies and issues, it also equipped us with essential research skills which I later found very useful in other classes as well, such as how to frame a research question and how to make a solid argument. The professional workshops offered during the third semester are also very engaging, for their ability to combine the academic perspectives with a more practical and professional approach, aimed at introducing us to the realities of the job market and preparing us for its challenges.

I believe GLM [Governing the Large Metropolis Track] has helped me in many ways to prepare for my professional career. The content of classes is strongly tailored to our future careers as urban professionals, and the program also offers incredible opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. During our study trip to Nairobi, we were able to directly observe the challenges of a large metropolis in an emerging economy, having the opportunity to engage with professionals from the different sectors of urban governance and, in this way, gaining precious insights and advice for our future careers. Moreover, the Capstone project during the second semester, which involved a collaboration with an external partner who required field research, allowed me to develop important professional skills, such as budget management, time management, and teamwork, tools that I will be able to use in my professional life. Finally, the curricular internship I will conduct next semester will further help me understand and refine my specific area of interest and gain practical experience in the field.

As a future practitioner, I would like to promote the sustainable development of cities, focusing on urban challenges related to mobility and transport planning, with a particular emphasis on ensuring equitable access to mobility for all. In doing this, I believe it is fundamental to take into account the urgent demands of climate change, which can also serve as an opportunity to develop more inclusive and resilient cities. My goal is to work on projects that integrate innovative transport strategies with other key urban sectors, such as housing, and thereby contribute to making urban systems both more efficient and equitable.