Circular Cities Teaching Fellowship

Welcome to the Circular Cities Teaching Fellowship Program, a unique initiative designed to empower university instructors and professional leadership trainors with the knowledge, tools, and support to guide learners towards innovative projects that advance the principles of circular cities. This fellowship is a collaborative effort to foster sustainable urban development through training and practical application.

Program Overview

The Circular Cities Teaching Fellowship Program deploys the approaches of Adaptive Leadership by Prof.Ronald Heifetz and Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) method from the Harvard Kennedy School's Building State Capability Program in the field of regenerative cities. The fellowship focuses on integrating circular economy principles into academic curricula and steering student projects towards sustainable urban solutions. Participants will have the opportunity to support learners who are engaged in project-based learning, learning as they build up city-level institutions for regenerative bioregions. 

Why Circular Cities?

Circular cities reimagine urban living by minimizing waste, optimizing resource use, and creating sustainable, regenerative systems. As urbanization accelerates, the need for circular city principles becomes increasingly critical. This fellowship equips educators to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders, innovators, and policymakers in creating resilient and sustainable urban environments.

Key Features

• Learning Workshops: Engage in workshops led by industry experts and thought leaders in circular economy and sustainable urban development.

• Resource Hub: Access a library of teaching materials, case studies, project templates, and assessment tools to integrate circular city concepts into your courses seamlessly.

• Mentorship: Receive personalized mentorship from seasoned professionals to support the development and implementation of circular city-themed projects.

• Collaborative Network: Join a community of like-minded educators and practitioners to share insights, collaborate on initiatives, and advance the field of circular cities.

• Field Immersion: Participate in field trips and site visits to exemplary circular cities and projects to gain first-hand experience and inspiration.

Fellowship Components

1. Curriculum Integration: Learn how to incorporate circular city principles into existing courses or develop new course offerings focused on sustainable urban development.

2. Project Development: Guide students in creating impactful projects that address real-world challenges within the framework of circular cities.

3. Evaluation and Feedback: Utilize evaluation tools and receive constructive feedback to continuously improve project outcomes and educational impact.

4. Dissemination and Scaling: Share successful projects and methodologies with a broader audience through conferences, publications, and collaborative platforms.

Who Should Apply?

The Circular Cities Teaching Fellowship Program is open to practitioners and teachers of adaptive leadership who are passionate about sustainability and eager to integrate circular economy concepts into their practice. Ideal candidates are those who demonstrate a commitment to innovative education and a desire to mentor learners in creating tangible, positive impacts on urban environments.

Problem-driven Iterative Adaptation

Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) is a methodology developed by Harvard University's Building State Capability Program. It is designed to address complex development challenges by promoting adaptive and context-specific solutions. Unlike traditional project management approaches that often prescribe predefined solutions, PDIA emphasizes understanding and addressing the root causes of problems through iterative learning and flexible experimentation.

The PDIA approach involves four key steps:

1. Problem Identification: This initial phase focuses on defining the problem accurately and in a way that resonates with the local context. It requires breaking down the problem into smaller, more manageable components and understanding its underlying causes and manifestations.

2. Construction of an Authorizing Environment: Success in PDIA depends on securing the support of key stakeholders, including those in positions of authority who can champion the initiative and provide the necessary resources and legitimacy. This step involves building coalitions and fostering a supportive environment for change.

3. Iteration and Adaptation: This core element of PDIA involves testing and refining potential solutions through a series of rapid, small-scale experiments. By learning from each iteration, teams can adapt their strategies based on what works and what doesn’t. This process encourages creativity and responsiveness to real-world dynamics.

4. Feedback and Learning: Continuous feedback is crucial in PDIA. Teams must regularly assess their progress, gather insights from stakeholders, and adjust their approaches accordingly. This learning process is iterative, helping to refine solutions and build local capacity over time.

PDIA’s strength lies in its flexibility and emphasis on local context, enabling it to address complex problems that traditional, top-down approaches may not effectively resolve. By fostering a culture of learning, adaptation, and collaboration, PDIA can lead to sustainable and contextually appropriate solutions that are more likely to be embraced and maintained by local communities and institutions.

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Leadership for Climate Action - Earth (LFCA)

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