Program Objectives

Students will be equipped with conceptual and practical tools to develop holistic (rather than purely technology-oriented) approaches towards sustainable urban planning — combining environmental and social approaches to urban transformation. The program will provide access to a wide range of advanced expertise in the fields of participatory planning and building, energy-efficient construction, integrated aspects of landscape and infrastructure planning, urban management and governance. It will thus enable students to combine principles of ecology-oriented science and engineering with a social approach to the design of urban landscapes and buildings, and to urban and regional planning. This degree also provides eligibility to register for PhD programs in Germany and the rest of Europe.

IUSD Program lines

The IUSD MSc Degree is an international 2-year master program hosted and organized by the two partner universities; University of Stuttgart (USTUTT), Stuttgart Germany and Ain Shams University (ASU), Cairo, Egypt. The offered MSc IUSD degrees program lines include the following:

– IUSD Double degree at the University of Stuttgart and Ain Shams University: The first year taught in Stuttgart and the second year taught in Cairo.

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– IUSD Cairo Program at Ain Shams University, Egypt: The two years taught in Cairo, with a potential opportunity of exchange of a limited number of students between Ain Shams University and University of Stuttgart in the second year for a double degree based on self-finance. Furthermore, single degree students could have the opportunity for an exchange semester at one of the international partner universities.

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– IUSD Stuttgart Program at University of Stuttgart, Germany: The two years taught in Stuttgart, with a potential opportunity of exchange of a limited number of students between the University of Stuttgart and Ain Shams University in the second year for a double degree based on self-finance.  single degree students could have the opportunity for an exchange semester at one of the international partner universities.

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IUSD Teaching Philosophy

The teaching philosophy of the program seeks to provide the students with support and guidance in expanding their individual expertise in the field of “Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design” while at the same time learning to work on complex, practice-based case-studies in interdisciplinary teams. The students come from a range of professional backgrounds and are expected to already have a degree and work experience. The program does not seek to award a professional degree in architecture/ urban planning or engineering. It aims to equip the students with the necessary practical and conceptual skills to develop holistic, interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative approaches to sustainable urbanism and design – and to apply this knowledge to practical tasks in order to solve complex problems in a collaborative way. To promote critical thinking and the ability to bring several people “to the table”, students are trained to become generalists with a specialty” with the ability to link engineering considerations with architectural, environmental, and socio-economic approaches to sustainable shaping and management of man-made environments, navigating the complexities of the field and exploring their interrelationships and mutual dependencies. As the program progresses, the teaching methods shift from a more theoretical approach to the study of concepts and tools to practical application of the acquired knowledge and tools to the design tasks. The teaching methodology combines:

1) Knowledge-based learning 

Students will acquire a broad understanding of the various facets of Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design, learning to relate environmental knowledge, technical expertise, design competence and socio-cultural awareness (compulsory core modules) and expand their individual expertise by specializing in specific topics selected according to their varying pre-qualifications and personal learning goals. Building up on the compulsory core modules, students will use their electives to pursue a specific track (specialization modules). Students are encouraged and given guidance to develop a track, which will strengthen their analytic skills, broaden their intellectual outlook, and test their acquired insight in real-world applications. The program also strives to nurture intellectual independence, self-reliance and personal growth.

2) Application-based learning 

Students will learn to apply their knowledge to practical tasks of varying complexity in an interdisciplinary hands-on learning environment based on the design approach (Integrated Research and Design/ Integrated Case Study Studios). In the second semester they will refine the acquired skills working on an integrated research and design project on different scales in small student groups. In the third semester they will complete a large case-study project. The application-based learning approach is closely linked to the course’s partner institutions and enables the students to develop close relationships with them. Thus, students are encouraged to be an active part of project development and decision-making processes.

3) Learning outcome and prospects/career options

Program graduates will be equipped to work in international organizations, in national and local governments and urban agencies, non-profit agencies, non-governmental organizations and planning/ design companies. They will also be prepared for academic careers and be well positioned for PhDs and international research projects.