The relationship between citizens and government in cities was why I chose the Master's in Urban Governance
Roel Minnaard
Alumnus Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities
The impact of the choices made by policymakers and administrators on how people live together in society is great. This was made clear early in the bachelor's programme in Public Administration. During my internship at the municipality of Rotterdam, it became clear to me that this is especially true in cities, where the whole of society comes together and the effect of decisions taken at the local level is much more directly visible.
The relationship between the citizens and the government in cities was decisive for me to choose the master in Urban Governance of Inclusive Sustainable Cities after graduating in Public Administration. How can citizens themselves directly influence how their city looks? And when is urban policy really legitimate? The answer to these questions was covered more than once in this master, for example, in the course Spatiality and Justice in Urban Governance or during one of the most hands-on courses, Urban Governance Labs, where you actively engage with real-life urban challenges.
Plenty to choose
By getting to work myself, I also got a better idea of what it means to be a professional in the field later. After this master, you can work as a civil servant at the municipality, province, water authority or national government, but you can also work in a business consultancy. I did the latter. While completing my thesis, I found a job with a consultancy that aims to make cities in the Netherlands and far beyond even better places to live in. Plenty to choose from!