IHS 1-year Master’s in Urban Socio-Spatial Transformations
Urban areas today are influenced by rapid social, economic, and technological changes, presenting both opportunities and inequalities. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for creating inclusive and sustainable urban futures.
The Urban Socio-Spatial Transformations programme is a specialisation within the MSc in Urban Management and Development. The programme will equip you with the knowledge and tools to analyse the drivers of urban change, including digitalisation, technological innovation, and social and economic inequalities. You will explore key topics such as urban governance, housing and land policies, and the impact of emerging technologies on cities. Additionally, you will learn to design policies that promote equitable and resilient urban development.
What are some of the unique features of this specialisation?
Next to studying at Erasmus University Rotterdam, an institution that is consistently ranked among the top 6% of the world’s best universities, following the Urban Socio-Spatial Transformations specialisation also means that you will get to:
- Engage in a diverse learning experience through lectures, case studies, debates, assignments, and field visits in Rotterdam and other Dutch cities. You also have the opportunity to do an internship or thesis fieldwork in the Netherlands or abroad.
- Be part of a highly international classroom, comprised of mid-level professionals and fresh graduates with varied experiences.
Learn more about the programme
Application deadlines
Early Bird*:
Non-EU/EEA & EU/EEA – 15 April
*Early Bird tuition waiver (for candidates who submit their fee by 15 May benefit from a €2000 tuition waiver).
Regular:
Non-EU/EEA – 1 June
EU/EEA – 1 July
Scholarship highlight
IHS-TSH Changemaker Scholarship: Three scholarships are awarded to candidates who demonstrate academic excellence and changemaking potential. The scholarship provides substantial support with full coverage of the tuition fees and one year of housing in Rotterdam.
Do you have any questions? Contact us at courseinquiries@ihs.nl.
Port Technology International’s Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) Asia is set to return to Bangkok on 8–9 September 2026, building on the success of its inaugural edition to bring together the region’s leading port and terminal professionals.
The event will be held at the Chatrium Grand Bangkok and is expected to attract more than 200 senior industry leaders across two days of keynotes, expert-led panels, workshops, and exhibition.
The 2026 agenda addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing terminal operators across the Asia-Pacific region, including brownfield automation deployments, data-driven decision-making, cyber risk management, landside connectivity, decarbonisation beyond 2027, and workforce development for next-generation terminal operations.
Confirmed speakers include C-suite and director-level executives from DP World, Hutchison Ports Thailand, Busan New Container Terminal, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, APM Terminals Mumbai, Modern Terminals, Mumbai Port Authority, Vietnam International Container Terminals, Colombo West International Terminal, and Johor Port, among others.
A Drinks Reception on the evening of 7 September will open the networking programme, with hosted lunches and a first-day evening mixer also scheduled throughout the conference.
Port and terminal operators can register on a complimentary basis. Solution provider passes are available from $699 under the current super early bird rate.
On 9-10 September 2026, the CIN Leadership Forum will take place in San Diego. It will be third in-person meeting of the City Innovation Network.
The Forum will bring together a maximum of 20 North American members and interested city leaders in a private setting to exchange best practices through roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions and case study presentations. Select industry partners are invited to join the dialogue alongside Chief Digital/Information Officers, Smart City Managers and Directors of Innovation from local governments.
Programme
The peer-to-peer organisation of the content and the composition of the group allow for active, challenging discussions that help city leaders arrive with a series of issues and depart with solutions based on other city or partner experiences.
With 20 cities present, we interview their representatives for the agenda and there will be short presentations from some cities followed by interactive discussions for the group.
INTERGEO 2026 (15–17 Sept 2026)
The world’s leading trade fair for geodesy, geoinformation and land management. Discover innovations, meet industry experts and shape the future of geospatial technologies at Messe München, Munich, Germany.
Join the global platform for networking, knowledge and business.
Register today for APTA TRANSform & EXPO in Chicago, IL on October 4-7, 2026.
APTA TRANSform & EXPO is the premier event designed to advance the public transportation industry and provide a platform for the exchange of ideas and information, including workshops, keynote sessions, and experience technical tours. Keynote speakers and educational sessions explore cutting-edge hot topics, including transformative technology, mental health awareness, community building, innovative funding and finance, safety and security, workforce development, worldwide mega projects, and more.
APTA TRANSform & EXPO is the place to immerse yourself in the industry while experiencing the latest in transit trends and initiatives. The EXPO hosts hundreds of exhibitors from around the world who provide solutions for forward-focused public transportation systems. They showcase their latest products, services, components, accessories and more to support bus, light- and heavy-rail, and autonomous mobility systems.
Join us in 2026, immerse yourself in the energy of Chicago, a city at the crossroads of transportation innovation, while engaging with industry leaders who are redefining every aspect of public transportation.
On 7-8 October 2026, the CIN Leadership Forum will take place in London. It will be the fourth in-person meeting of the City Innovation Network.
The Forum will bring together a maximum of 20 European members and interested city leaders in a private setting to exchange best practices through roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions and case study presentations. Select industry partners are invited to join the dialogue alongside Chief Digital/Information Officers, Smart City Managers and Directors of Innovation from local governments.
Programme
The peer-to-peer organisation of the content and the composition of the group allow for active, challenging discussions that help city leaders arrive with a series of issues and depart with solutions based on other city or partner experiences.
With 20 cities present, we interview their representatives for the agenda and there will be short presentations from some cities followed by interactive discussions for the group.
Business models. Technology. Sustainability. Innovation.
For the global aviation industry.
The World Aviation Festival is the leading conference and exhibition for the global aviation industry. The event is for the leaders of the world’s airlines, airports and their most senior executives in charge of software, services, marketing and distribution.
In 2026, the event is returning to Lisbon to bring our community of 4,500+ global executives together once again to be inspired by 600 speakers and 400 exhibitors over 3 incredible days.
With sixteen content-packed tracks, the conference offers something for every facet of the aviation industry. Whether you’re focused on enhancing customer experience, leveraging the latest in AI and machine learning, or driving sustainability initiatives, we’ve got you covered.
Readers of Cities Today receive a 10% discount using promo code CITIES10. Register now!
On 21-22 October, the TIA Leadership Forum on Mobility will take place in Peachtree Corners, GA. It will be the 64th meeting for city leaders convened by the Cities Today Institute.
The event will be hosted by James Nguyen, Assistant Director of Public Works for the City of Peachtree Corners, and will take place at Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners – the renowned living laboratory for real-world technology deployment.
The invitation-only Forum will bring together a maximum of 20 North American city leaders in a private setting to exchange best practices through roundtable discussions, Q&A sessions, case study presentations and site visits. Select industry partners are invited to join the dialogue alongside Directors and DOT Commissioners of Transportation from local governments.
Tech Forum: Maritime Information Services (MIS) will hold its Technology & Innovation Forum on 27–29 October 2026 at the Hôtel Dieu Intercontinental Marseille, bringing together nearly 150 senior decision-makers, innovators, and industry pioneers to examine the forces reshaping global shipping.
Spanning two days of sessions, the agenda is structured around two core themes.
Day 1 addresses digital transformation, covering innovation barriers, cybersecurity and resilience, the shift from assisted to autonomous operations, and building organisational cultures capable of sustaining change.
Day 2 turns to sustainability and next-generation shipbuilding, with sessions on clean energy alternatives, advanced ship design, wind propulsion retrofits, hull management, and practical pathways to net zero.
Confirmed speakers include chief-level executives from CSL Group, Ammonia Europe, V. Group, Meratus Group, and Grimaldi Group, among others, reflecting a broad cross-section of shipowners, operators, and technology leaders.
Networking runs throughout both days, opening with a welcome drinks reception on the evening of 27 October, followed by hosted lunches, coffee breaks, and a day-one evening mixer. Delegates also gain access to the MIS Event App to connect before, during, and after the forum.
Shipping representatives can register on a complimentary basis, subject to approval. Industry affiliate passes are available from €720 under the current super early bird rate.
Port Technology International’s Container Terminal Automation Conference (CTAC) Americas will return to Panama in February 2027, bringing together port authorities, terminal operators and technology providers to examine the operational and technological pressures shaping container handling across the region.
The event will be held at the InterContinental Miramar Panama, overlooking Panama Bay, and will run over two days of keynotes, panel discussions, technical workshops and exhibition sessions focused on applied solutions for terminal performance and resilience.
The agenda will address a broad set of operational priorities, including automation deployment across different terminal scales, electrification and shore power adoption as part of wider decarbonisation strategies, intermodal connectivity constraints, cybersecurity risks, terminal operating system (TOS) implementation, and market volatility.
A consistent theme throughout the programme is the practical applicability of these technologies in Latin American terminals, with emphasis placed on scalability beyond major hub ports.
Speakers confirmed include representatives from APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas, Portwise, CONROO and INFORM, alongside port engineers, consultants and logistics professionals from Brazil, Mexico and other regional markets.
CTAC Americas will also feature structured networking opportunities across both days of the conference, beginning with a Welcome Drinks Reception on 15 February 2027. The programme includes hosted lunches, coffee breaks and an evening networking session on day one, designed to support engagement between operators and solution providers.
Delegates will also have access to the PTI Events App, enabling pre-event and post-event networking and facilitating continued engagement across the regional terminal community.
The conference continues PTI’s focus on applied terminal automation and operational transformation, with an emphasis on deployment realities rather than conceptual discussion.
