Urban Sustainability and Industrial Innovation in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands

Students will begin this hybrid study abroad program on-campus for a few days of pre-departure coursework. They will then travel to Rotterdam, Frankfurt, and Milan for four weeks to explore the urban sustainability and industrial innovations, before returning to Tacoma to finish the quarter. 

As we make connections to Tacoma and the greater Puget Sound region, this course will draw lessons from cities in European countries that have a long history of confronting urban development/redevelopment concerns. We will visit cities in The Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, focusing specifically on how manufacturing is included in urban development plans and projects. In addition to discussing readings and reflecting on experiences in the classroom, our time will be spent taking excursions to different locations and completing a variety of field exercises. All lectures, readings, visits, and activities will focus on increasing students’ ability to understand emerging urban development dynamics and to generate important lessons about urban development and redevelopment at home and abroad.

This study abroad program is taught by Drs. Mark Pendras and Yonn Dierwechter.

Academic Content

This program does not have any prerequisites or language requirements. It is designed for undergraduate students from any major. 

Students receive a total of twelve credits for the program as follows:

TURB 379 Urban Field Experience (12 credits)

The focus of this course will be on urban sustainability and industrial innovation, which is intended to enhance students’ understanding of urban industrial inclusion. In the last thirty years of urban development, manufacturing and other industrial activities have typically been relegated to the urban margins, if not ‘offshored’ entirely, in pursuit of ‘creative’ and ‘sustainable’ development visions. Pushed out of sight and out of mind by zoning and development practices designed to protect more privileged land uses, the contributions of manufacturing to urban vitality have, until recently, been forgotten and/or overlooked. However, in recent years this has begun to change, as many cities have started weaving manufacturing back into the fabric of the city, bringing visibility and proximity to the sector in ways that open space for engagement, attention, and support. In this course, we consider the role of manufacturing in the ‘sustainable’ city by visiting some of the leading examples of urban industrial inclusion in Europe. Long known for providing leadership in the area of green urbanism, the European context also provides an ideal location to see how emerging efforts to retain (and expand) manufacturing in so-called “post-industrial societies” are now helping cities and city-regions to be greener and more climate friendly by situating production not as a problem to be overcome but rather as an important component of urban sustainability.

Learning Goals Include:

• Experience European “urbanism” in particular and European urban and social development policies and priorities in general

• Gain hands-on experience directly observing non-US urban areas with respect to their geography, history, social problems, architecture, art/culture, government, commerce (retail spaces, ports), etc

• Develop field research skills, gaining knowledge of data collection techniques in a cross-cultural setting

• Learn to define and elaborate concepts, theories and debates that characterize emerging areas of  comparative urban climate action in the European context

• Develop an understanding of the expected consequences of climate change in Europe and the role of green manufacturing in mitigating unsustainable production

• Develop the ability to explain urban sustainability practices and innovations in key economic sectors, esp. manufacturing

**Students will receive 12 credits for T URB 379, Urban Studies Field Experience. Possible internal course substitutions for UW Tacoma Sustainable Urban Development include TSUD 444: Green internationalism and the city, and TSUD 475: Community and Economy. Course credits will otherwise satisfy elective requirements in the Urban Studies and Sustainable Urban Development  degrees. Other majors must check with their academic adviser for placement of credits within their degree program.

Program Schedule

The program runs from June 15 - August 15, 2022. Students will spend June 21 to July 14 in the Netherlands, Germany and Italy and will complete their coursework after returning to Tacoma. 

Housing

Students will be staying in hotels. Rooms are double occupancy. 

Student Eligibility

Undergraduates from any UW campus may apply. 

Application Deadline

Applications are due on January 31, 2022. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by February 14, 2022. Once accepted to the program, applicants will need to confirm their participation in the program by March 1, 2022.

Travel Documents and Insurance

All program participants must have a valid passport in order to travel to the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

Visas

There is no visa requirement for U.S. citizens to travel to Germany, Italy or the Netherlands.

If you are a citizen of another country, you can research visa requirements by calling the consular offices of countries to where you will be traveling or visiting the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html. 

The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to do more than one study abroad program.

Insurance

The University of Washington requires students engaged in educational activities abroad – including study, research, internships or community engagement – to purchase UW Student Abroad Insurance. If you are a current UW student, you are required to purchase coverage UW Student Abroad Insurance. Details are on the UW Study Abroad Insurance page.

Program Cost

The program fee is $xxxx

Included in the cost of the program:

• $450 Administrative Fee
• Instruction (15 credits)
• Housing and some meals while students are abroad
• Program activities and program travel
• Airport pick-up and drop-off in China

Not Included:

• Airfare
• Meals (except as listed above)
• UW Student Abroad Insurance
• Transportation to and from the airport in the U.S.
• Personal expenses (phone calls, eating out, etc.)
• Textbooks
• Visa cost

Payment Due Date: July 8, 2022

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Withdrawals

The $450 UW Study Abroad Administrative Fees are non-refundable once a contract has been submitted. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun (please refer to Emergency Withdrawal information below, if applicable). The date of withdrawal is considered the business day a withdrawal form is received by the Office of Global Affairs. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:

Please email uwtintl@uw.edu and copy your program director(s) providing notice that you will no longer be participating in the program. You will also need to respond to any further communication from the Office of Global Affairs to finalize your withdrawal.

If a program is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student will not be charged either the UW Study Abroad Administrative Fee or the UW Tacoma Study Abroad Program Fee.

Emergency Withdrawal

If you cannot participate in a study abroad program, you may submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial relief from your financial obligations to the program.

An Emergency Withdrawal Petition may be submitted in the following circumstances:

• Unanticipated change in financial situation
• Medical emergency
• Death in immediate family
• Active military duty
• Unusual or extenuating circumstances

To submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition, complete this form and email it to uwtintl@uw.edu. 

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• A large percentage of UW students utilize financial aid to study abroad. Most types of financial aid can be applied to study abroad fees.
• For UW Tacoma students, you can submit a revision request to increase the amount of aid for the quarter you are studying abroad. These additional funds are usually awarded in the form of loans. To apply, fill out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the UW Tacoma Office of Financial Aid.
• For UW Seattle or Bothell Students, you can apply by filling out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the Office of Financial Aid.
• Consult the Financial Aid section on the UW Study Abroad website for more information on applying for financial aid, special considerations for summer and early fall programs, and budgeting and fundraising tips
• Please also review this list of scholarships: these are opportunities that can help fund your study abroad experience. Please note that many of them have deadlines before your study abroad application is due. For help with the application process, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Budgeting Tools

We understand that figuring out your finances for study abroad can be complicated, and we are here to help. Here are some ways to find additional support:

• Click on the Budget Sheets link at the top of this brochure to view the estimated budget of all expenses for this program.
• UW Tacoma students can attend a How to Fund Your Study Abroad event - more information is on the Events page of our website.

Changes in Cost or Scope of Program

In the event of significant devaluations of the dollar, some adjustments to program activities may be necessary. If there are any political events that might compromise the safety of the participants, a rescheduling or cancellation of the program may be necessary. If such changes occur, students will be notified of the changes and options will be presented.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an online pre-departure orientation facilitated by UW Study Abroad as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program directors. Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Program Cancellation

If viable enrollment is not reached by April 1, 2022 the program will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and the administrative and program fees will be refunded.

Disability Accommodation