Study tours to 15 cities that take the lead in urban innovation

In November, 2014, UCLG and Metropolis along with the city of Guangzhou co-sponsored the 2nd Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. This cycle of the competition had attracted 259 entries from 177 cities worldwide. In the end, five cities were named winners of the Guangzhou Award while another 15 were shortlisted and recommended by the Jury. An Urban innovation Seminar was also held at the time to honor these innovative initiatives in order to share experiences and promote peer learning between member cities.

As disclosed in our previous communication, our community together with the Guangzhou Award Secretariat and Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation have been planning to conduct a series of field study tours to cities whose initiatives had been shortlisted at the 2nd Guangzhou Award. The study tours will include scholars, local and regional officials as well as media from around the world. Fifteen cities will be our target destinations for the months to come starting April. The purpose of these tours is to compile scholarly documentation as well as to promote peer learning within the UCLG network. The Community cordially invites you to join us in this meaningful project.

We believe there are SIX Reasons why you should be part of this project:

1.to GET FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE on the best practices selected by the Guangzhou Award Jury

2.to GET CONNECTED with Community members and expand your international networks

3.to GET EXPERT ADVICE on urban management technique for your city or organization

4.to GET INVOLVED in the meaningful work contributing to urban innovation

5.to GET INFORMED with our findings and papers published after the study tours

6.to HAVE FUN working with experts and officials coming from different cultures!

The proposed study tours plan for 2015 can be found on the next page. Your ideas and suggestions to better this project would be highly welcome. Should you have any query, please feel free to contact UCLG Community on Urban Innovation Secretariat in Guangzhou at community@guangzhouaward.org.

Acting as an integrated learning platform, UCLG Community on Urban Innovation is dedicated to member networking and peer learning. We would like to thank you for your constant support. Also, it is never too late to join our Community and interact with our members.

NOTE：

1. Preliminary Research

* All participants for the study tour are supposed to pre-study the related initiatives before the trip.

2. Field Trip

* All study tour will composed by on-site visit to the projects and thematic seminars/workshops, co-organized by the local governments, UCLG Community on Urban Innovation, Guangzhou Award Secretariat and Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation.

3. Findings and Reports

* Every participant should compile a final report on the project research. All findings and reports should be submitted to the Guangzhou Award Secretariat, which will publish the results of the research.

4. Expenses

* Participants take this tour (s) at their own expense.