Urban Social Development
Centre of Expertise Governance of Urban Transitions
Introduction
The city is a dynamic environment where different populations coexist. This social and cultural diversity offers oppourtunities, but also generates problems and uncertainty. Therefore citizens and social institutions face many challenges. The research group studies social and cultural developments in urban environments, enabling the research group to stimulate a positive contribution on this matter.
About the research group
The research group explores how cities can become more just and inclusive. At its core is the question of how all residents can gain equal access to essential resources such as education, employment, healthcare, and a high quality living environment. In practice, many groups continue to face barriers, exclusion, and discrimination, resulting in unequal opportunities. That is why we place the perspectives of residents whose voices are less often heard at the centre of our research. Together with residents and societal partners, we investigate how inequalities arise, why they persist, and which solutions can contribute to inclusive urban development. In doing so, we work towards cities in which everyone can participate fully in society.
The research group focuses on three research lines:
Inclusive City
A city where everyone feels welcome and is able to participate, with a focus on social cohesion, identity, and equal opportunities in employment and healthcare.
Self-Organising City
A city where citizen initiatives and local networks are empowered to improve the city together with government and community partners.
Caring City
A city where residents, community organisations, and government work together to care for one another and for the living environment, with a focus on informal care and strengthening social connections within neighbourhoods.
About the professor
dr. Katja Rusinovic
Since 1 June 2020, Katja Rusinovic has been a professor of Urban Development at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Her work centres around the themes of social mobility, citizenship, (labour) migration, the urban labour market, education and new forms of housing for seniors. In 2006, Katja obtained her doctorate at Erasmus University Rotterdam with a study on migrant entrepreneurship in the four largest cities in the Netherlands, comparing first and second-generation immigrants. Her post-doctoral research focused on citizenship and transnational connections among the immigrant middle class in Rotterdam and The Hague. From 2012 to 2017, Katja worked at the University of Amsterdam in the Department of Sociology, as a lecturer, researcher and education director of the Sociology Master's programme. She has been working at The Hague University of Applied Sciences since 2017.
In addition to her work as professor, Katja is active in various boards.
+31 (0)6 - 86 86 52 04
[email protected]
As a big city, The Hague is the perfect research lab for social problems and social renewal.
Team
Within our research group, researchers, lecturer-researchers and students work closely with practice partners to conduct research. Together they are committed to translating the results of the research -knowledge and insights- into the practice of education and the region.
