Workshop for Thought Leaders: Learning from Urban Innovation
2-6 November 2015
Guangzhou, China
Urban leadership plays a vital role in facilitating urban transformation and innovation. The megatrends of globalization, urbanization and climate change are compelling local governments to search for more effective policies, strategies and governance models to make their cities more loveable, more competitive and environmentally sustainable.
In this context, the “Workshop for Thought Leaders: Learning from Urban Innovation” is conceived and designed to help policy and decision makers learn from outstanding innovations in urban resilience, prosperity and sustainability. This workshop provides a unique opportunity for city leaders to engage with leading experts, practitioners and urban leaders in learning from best practices in solving urban challenges and in making cities work for their citizens.
Tentative Outline
I. Time | 2-6 November 2015 |
II. Venue | Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China |
III. Hosts | Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation UCLG Community on Urban Innovation Metropolis-ASPAC Regional Office |
IV. Organizer | School of Government, Sun Yat-Sen University |
V. Participants | City managers and policy makers worldwide (15-20 in total) |
VI. Content | •Speakers: prestigious international experts will be invited to share the cutting-edge ideas and practices on outstanding leadership. •Roundtables: various groups, including enterprises, NGO, officials, scholars, etc. will discuss new forms of public-private-community partnerships. •Dialogues: moderators will lead the participants to exchange on urban transformation and innovation and how to improve policy and decision-making. •Panel discussion: Chinese experts will explain the city leadership outlook in transitional China. •Case studies: outstanding initiatives selected from the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation will be presented and analyzed for lessons learning. •Presentation of an “Action Plan”: each participant will have the opportunity to discuss and prepare a back-to-office action plan with the support of experts on improving urban management and governance. •One-to-one coaching: specific guidance and advice will be provided by the international experts to address the challenges facing your city. •Field trips: several site visits will be conducted to look at urban development in Guangzhou. |
Draft Agenda
Workshop for Thought Leaders: Learning from Urban Innovation
Day 1(Nov 2)
Opening Ceremony
Introduction to the Workshop
Speech: Overview of Global Urban Innovation
Speaker: Mr. Sunil Dubey, Advisor to METROPOLIS
Roundtable: Issues and Challenges in Urban Transformation
Case Study on the Guangzhou Award Initiatives in Urban Innovation
Day 2 (Nov 3)
Speech: Outstanding Local Leadership
Speaker: Robert O’Neil, Executive Director of ICMA, USA
Group Discussion
Site Visit of Guangzhou Urban Innovation (1)
Day 3 (Nov 4)
Case Studies: Excellent Practices on City Leadership
Speech: Sustainable Urban Development
Speaker: Zhu Dajian, Professor of Tongji University, China
Panel Discussion: New forms of City Partnerships
Day 4 (Nov 5)
Speech: Leadership — Inspiring Change in Practice
Speaker: Robin Hambleton, Professor of the University of the West of England, UK
Best Practices on City Leadership
Working Groups: Formulating an “Action Plan”
Group Discussion and Presentation
Site Visit of Guangzhou Urban Innovation (2)
Day 5 (Nov 6)
Speech: Recent Changes and Practices in Urban Governance of China
Speaker: Mr. Lan Zhiyong, Professor of Renmin University of China
Methods and Tools for Innovative City Leadership
Presentation of the “Action Plans”
Closing Ceremony
Come and join us!
For more information, please contact us.
Email: info@guangzhouaward.org
Tel: +86-020-6628-9077