Summer course SETS (Society, Environment, Transportation and Space) concluded

The summer course SETS was successfully delivered in May and June 2016 for the eighth year in a row. SETS stands for "Society, Environment, Transportation and Space: The Dutch Experience". Not less than 20 participants, predominantly from the United States, participated in the four week course, that aims to familiarize foreign students with the (spatial) planning and development policies of the Netherlands. The course focuses on water management and sustainable transportation issues, analyzed in the context of Dutch demographics, culture and economic development. Many excursions by bicycle and bus contribute to an understanding of the ongoing changes in urban and regional planning in the Netherlands.

The course ended with a workshop on June 18. Four groups of participants presented their findings on urban agriculture, bicycle parking policies, urban brownfield redevelopment and neighbourhood parks, followed by carefully selected site visits prepared and delivered by the participants.

SETS is delivered by the Faculty of Spatial Sciences in cooperation with the CIEE, the Council on International Educational Exchange, seated in Portland (Maine) in the United States. The coordinator and principal teacher of the course is Paul van Steen. Various staff members from the Faculty of Spatial Sciences contributed to the 2016 edition of the course, including Justin Beaumont, Joost Gielen, Peter Groote, Sierdjan Koster, Wendy Tan, Sergi Trias Llimos and Chris Zuidema, as well as MSc student Maud Bruggeling.