The University of Bucharest, as partner, together with the Autonomous University in Madrid, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Aix-Marseille University, Paris – Lodron University in Salzburg, the University of Laussane and Tübingen University implemented, within the CIVIS Alliance, the Blended Intensive Program (BIP) Overtourism in global cities. Impacts, challenges and solutions.
The class was organized within HUB4 – Cities, spaces and territories, being perfectly anchored both in the priorities established at the CIVIS Alliance level, as well as in the subjects of special scientific interest at international level.
In an interactive and open frame, the class aimed to discuss concepts, methodologies and good practices connected to urban tourism. The class was addressed to all students interested in understanding cities, no matter their level (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD) or field (nature sciences, geography, social sciences, humanities) of study.
Teaching activities were held by teaching staff affiliated to partner universities. At the reunion, UB was represented by professor Cristian Iojă, PhD, and lecturer Gabriel Vânău, PhD, who both teach at the UB Faculty of Geography. Additional teaching activities were held by professors Christian Smigiel from the University of Salzburg; Carmen Hidalgo Giralt, BIP coordinator, and Diego Barrado Timón, from the Autonomous University in Madrid; Benjamin Wayens from the Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Nicolas Maxime, Carine Fournier, Sebastien Gadal from the Aix-Marseille University and Karin Polit from Tübingen University.
CIVIS becomes a natural component of the teaching activities at the University of Bucharest, both for its teaching staff and for students. This BIP, Overtourism in global cities, has allowed us to offer yet another international experience to our students, but also to participate to a unique experience in which a city becomes an classroom and a generator of creative ideas, underlined professor Cristian Iojă, PhD.
Each team of students held a presentation on the planning and management of urban tourism
The program included online round tables, organized between April – May 2024, and a 5-day physical activity, organized in Madrid between May 27 – 31st 2024.
The physical activity in the capital of Spain proposed a program which aimed to consolidate the competencies accumulated during the four online meetings, developing practical abilities connected to the use of relevant advanced methods for researching urban tourism, the advanced understanding of the characteristics of territory and the development of team-work abilities in pluridisciplinary and multicultural teams.
37 students from universities within the CIVIS Alliance attended the class, including the University of Bucharest, Paris – Lodron University in Salzburg, the Autonomous University in Madrid, Aix-Marseille University, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, the National and Kapodistrian University in Athens. Among these, 17 students came from the UB Faculty of Geography, from the field of Geography and Environmental Sciences.
At the end of the activity, each team of students presented different perspectives for planning and managing urban tourism, being evaluated on the basis of their involvement on this theme.
Participating to the Overtourism in global cities BIP and, more important, the practical activity in Madrid was a unique experience which allowed us to add concepts, methodologies and new approaches referring to an economic activity that students in the field of Environmental Sciences see as durable alternatives for many territories. We have managed to understand that not only the dimension of touristic fluxes, but also the structure, spatial and temporary distribution, as well as the manner of using natural and cultural patrimony elements are equally important for evaluating the impact on the environment associated to this activity. The necessity of finding a balance between tourist activities and local communities must be looked at multidimensionally, because tourism is not a universal solution to polluting economic activities, not even in big cities, explained Alexandru Ovedenie, student of the UB Faculty of Geography.
The opportunity we had to know and work with students from different universities in Spain, Germany, Switzerland, France and Austria helped us to understand the importance of multiculturalism and interdisciplinarity in the society of the future, said another student of the UB Faculty of Geography, Ana Francesca Botea.
The class contributes to the implementation of durability objectives assumed by the University of Bucharest, especially ODD4, ODD11 and ODD 16.
SECŢIUNE ACCESIBILIZATĂ PENTRU PERSOANELE CU DIZABILITĂŢI DE VEDERE
Postări asemănătoare:
About Rip Currents, the Hidden Danger on the Romanian Beaches of the Black Sea, with Researcher Florin Tătui, Teaching Staff at the Faculty of Geography of UB
The University of Bucharest steps towards digitalization through the EDIS project. Trainings dedicated to the development of digital competencies for the UB academic community – teaching staff, students and administrative staff
18 Students from the Faculty of Geography of the University of Bucharest, Participants in the CIVIS BIP “Participatory tools for urban nature planning and management”
