Renée Knoop, PhD candidate in Innovation in Public Law, and Alberto Quintavalla, Assistant Professor of Innovation in Public Law, both affiliated with Erasmus School of Law, have received the UNIC CityLab Award. This prize was presented during the conference organized by UNIC – a European alliance of ten universities. The UNIC CityLab recognises the innovative teaching approach within the course Perspectives on Sustainability, part of the Master’s programme Publiekrecht voor Bedrijf en Burger.
The award-winning educational initiative is a collaboration between ֱ (EUR) and University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland. Through this project, Knoop and Quintavalla brought together students from Rotterdam and researchers and local stakeholders from Cork to share best practices and lessons learned while working on current sustainability challenges that both cities face.
Sustainability from Multiple Perspectives
The course Perspectives on Sustainability explores how the concept of sustainable development is reflected in legislation, policy, and society. Students not only learn theoretical frameworks, but also apply them in practice by working on real and pressing sustainability issues through cooperation with local stakeholders such as the Municipality of Rotterdam or the Green Village. With the CityLab EUR–UCC, an international, comparative perspective has been added to this approach.
During the CityLab sessions, EUR students have engaged in dialogue with UCC researchers and local stakeholders in Cork. Moreover, they attended presentations on topics such as the rights of nature, international environmental law, and public participation in climate policy. They also visited the Sustainability Showcase 2024 at the UCC College of Business and Law.
Bridging Theory and Practice
EUR-UCC CityLab has offered students a unique opportunity to work alongside policymakers, researchers, and civil society organisations on real policy challenges. For instance, they learned about the HYBES project, which maps the local benefits of decarbonisation, and the PROCOMMS project, which promotes citizen engagement in climate issues.
These practical experiences are closely integrated with the academic content of the course, allowing students not only to deepen their knowledge but also to formulate concrete policy recommendations.
Towards International Expansion
The success of CityLab EUR–UCC has not gone unnoticed. During the graduation ceremony, students described the initiative as “one of the most memorable experiences of their Master’s programme”. As a result, the approach will be continued: this year, a similar CityLab will be launched in collaboration with the University of Deusto in Bilbao.
With CityLab, Erasmus School of Law demonstrates that education is not solely an academic pursuit but can also actively contribute to societal transformation. The Award from UNIC highlights the significance and impact of this innovative educational vision.
- PhD student
- Assistant professor
