Welcome to the "Gov" course in 2021!

  • Welcome to the "Gov" course in 2021!


    The 5 cr course MUO-E8026 (USP-323) Designing for Urban Governance and Services provides an overview of the current and emerging uses and roles of design in the public sector. It introduces core terminologies, theories, methods and examples of design, planning and other creative professional roles in the context of urban governance and public services. The aim is to familiarise students with recent knowledge in the design field and to develop their skills in applying design approaches in their studies and profession. The main topics in the course are:

    • Introduction to present and future approaches, issues and trends in public governance and service provisioning, with focus on design and planning implications.
    • Introduction to design theories, methods and approaches relevant in the public sector, including design for policy and governance, design for civil society and activism, and participatory design in the urban context.
    • Examples of design activities, cases and experts from the field.
    • Critical analysis of the value, potential and challenges of design in the public sector.

    The course consists of three elements:
    • Series of lectures
    • Reading circle done in groups
    • Individual essay and final presentation

    COURSE COOPERATION (DfG)
    The course is held in cooperation with the Aalto University CS course MUO-E8012 Design for Government (DfG). Both courses are held on Mondays, with some shared sessions. DfG is a project-based course in which students address policy challenges commissioned by the Finnish ministries. It thus provides complementary examples of project-based work in the subject. Both courses can be taken at the same time for a total of 15 cr. The DfG course lasts for two periods (IV & V). Note that there is an application process for the DfG course.

    REGISTRATION
    This course is offered by Aalto Dept. of Design within the joint Aalto University and Helsinki University Master's Programme in Urban Studies and Planning (USP). For students that are not registered in the USP major or minor study program, the course is also available to students from other degree programmes as an elective. If there are more students registered for the course than there are places in the course, there will be a selection process. Priority order for selection is specified in the course description in Oodi. Registration for the course closes a week before the first day of class, whereupon elective students will be notified if they have a place in the course.

    WEEKLY SCHEDULE

    Teaching hours are Mondays between 9:15–15:30, with part of the day reserved for independent and group work. The lectures are sometimes shared with the DfG course. The general structure is like this:

    • Lectures in the morning, usually between 9:15-11.
    • Mid-day allocated for groupwork and independent work (sometimes including a teaching session).
    • Sharing session of the reading groups in the afternoon at 14:15/14:30-15:15/15:30.

    CONTACTS

    Antti Pirinen, responsible teacher
    D.Arts, University Lecturer
    Spatial and Service Design
    Aalto ARTS, Dept. of Architecture
    antti.pirinen@aalto.fi
    +358-40-5300828

    Cansu Pylkkänen, teaching assistant
    M.Sc (Arch.), MA student in Aalto ARTS
    cansu.pylkkanen@aalto.fi

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