Past Initiative News

The OAS and EAFIT Organize Course on Social Urbanism and Public Management in Medellin

Tuesday, December 03, 2013
From the 2-6 of December, professionals from 12 countries around the hemisphere get together in Medellin to learn about the urban and social transformation taking place in the city over the last few years.

This course is geared towards local, national, and international professionals and students from different disciplines interested in learning about “Medellin’s Case.” The methodology used for this course were theoretical classes and tours of different sectors and institutions of the city that were a fundamental part of the transformation process, and a workshop for the exchange of ideas on city management.

With the goal of strengthening open reflection spaces for critical analysis on urban-regional topics, environmental issues and their impact on society, the Center for Urban and Environmental Studies-EAFIT has convened for this course a group of professionals that from various fields and disciplines have analyzed and investigated the process of urban and social transformation in Medellin.

During the first day of the course “Social Urbanism and Public Management,” participants visited the current governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo. Governor Farjardo presented on the bases and principles that have transformed the city of Medellin over the last 14 years. Under the motto “Anitoquia the most educated,” the former mayor of Medellin identified education as the engine of social transformation and highlighted dignity and respect as the cornerstones of public policy that have allowed the city to evolve. Physical planning is the base of the transformation process. Various Integrated Urban Projects (PUI) promoted social inclusion by incorporating institutional components through programs like community housing, transportation and connectivity, library parks, and recovery of public spaces. It was demonstrated that the physical and infrastructure investment has been the platform to enhance and make the social transformation of the city possible.

The course is organized by the Department of Sustainable Development in the OAS in coordination with the EAFIT University Center of Urban and Environmental Studies and it has more than 20 participants from 12 countries around the hemisphere. Learn more about the ECPA Sustainable Communities Initiative