Explore the role of technology and data in cities, and learn how you can participate in the creation of smart cities. On this online course, you’ll hear from smart city innovators, entrepreneurs, leaders, communities and businesses.
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This free online course will help you to navigate your own path through the complex landscape of smart cities. You’ll hear from smart city innovators and entrepreneurs, city leaders, communities and business, connecting with learners from around the world to reflect on issues facing smart cities of different sizes and situations.
You’ll explore what it’s like to live in a smart city, and the role of systems thinking, living labs, open data, crowdsourcing and roadmaps in them. You’ll debate challenges of privacy, ethics and security, and weigh up the value of leadership, standards and metrics. You’ll learn how to co-create a smart city project where you live.
The course has been developed as part of MK:Smart – a £16 million collaborative smart city initiative, supporting the economic growth of Milton Keynes.
What topics will you cover?
• Week 1: The course starts by examining what smart cities are, exploring the contrasting visions of how they will transform our urban environments and lives, and considers whether smart cities can be sustainable.
• Week 2: Looks at the role of people in smart cities and different approaches cities are taking from city led roadmaps, to business smart technology services, to solutions co-designed with citizens through living labs.
• Week 3: Examines the role that technology, data and urban analytics can play in transforming cities and considers challenges such as data ownership, privacy and ethics.
• Week 4: Explores the connections between urban innovation, enterprise and future smart city business models, looking at who will finance the smart city.
• Week 5: Considers the importance of city leadership and governance in developing smart cities, exploring the role of different stakeholders, as well as policy and standards.
• Week 6: The final week investigates the opportunities and barriers cities face in becoming smart and whether progress is being made. Students reflect on what they have learnt and are signposted to further learning opportunities.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Explore and understand the concepts and current debates around smart, sustainable and future cities
- Identify and recognise the role and importance that ICT, data and urban analytics can play in addressing key urban challenges and key issues related to this
- Explain and be aware of the importance of leadership and governance in creating smart cities and the role of different stakeholders including government, local authorities, business, universities and communities
- Explore different approaches to involving citizens in smart cities and planning for future cities
- Apply and consider the connections between urban innovation, enterprise and future smart city business models
