Can you describe your journey before starting the program?
I am originally from Colombia. Before starting the master’s, I was working with the Colombian government. I did my studies in Political Science, and then I specialised in public administration. I was mostly dealing with government affairs and public policy regarding social issues. We had a lot of programs there that had to do with consolidating some territories that were lagging behind the rest of the country.
Why did you choose MUS?
I've always had an interest in cities and especially for transportation. I was always concerned about how we can move people efficiency, how we can have efficient logistics also in the urban context. Coming from a country like Colombia, I had experienced the need to speed up our massive transportation infrastructure in cities and to come up with quick solutions to do so. Having experienced this shift in the Colombian context, I was hoping to get more insights on other contexts during the masters. I applied for the master’s in urban studies, they accepted me there, and I decided to just go. From that moment until today I have been involved in Urban Studies, specifically now in the transportation sector.
"I was always concerned about how we can move people efficiency, how we can have efficient logistics also in the urban context. Coming from a country like Colombia, I had experienced the need to speed up our massive transportation infrastructure in cities and to come up with quick solutions to do so."
How did you experience the interdisciplinary aspect of the master?
You had to do some core courses and then decide for some specific lines of studies, it was very interdisciplinary because I discovered a lot of topics that were not in my personal agenda. For instance, the housing crisis in cities, topics related to critical economic studies and its relationship with city studies. There was also the topic of economy, space relocation, redesign, and transportation, of course, and there was a lot of sociology as well. It was a very interesting group of courses to follow, but then I was always interested in following the transportation line of it, the urban mobility.
This specialisation led me to do the job I am doing now. During my studies, I focused on new mobility services, which was at the time and is still a very hot topic. The new paradigm of mobility deals with how cities are moving towards more sustainable and innovative ways of transportation and to different modes of transport.
"During my studies, I focused on new mobility services, which was at the time and is still a very hot topic. The new paradigm of mobility deals with how cities are moving towards more sustainable and innovative ways of transportation and to different modes of transport."
Can you describe your work at the moment?
I am a project manager at the Brussels-based POLIS network. It is a network of cities and regions working in innovation in urban transport and focusing on sustainability and accessibility. We are working with different cities and regions across Europe, trying to foster peer to peer exchange between our members, some priority topics in the industry have to do with innovation, transport and sustainable modes of transport. We do research and we also work in different European funded projects.
For me, it was important to choose the emphasis of mobility because I found a research topic that interested me quite early. Before taking those courses, I did not know what shared micro mobility was for example. That led me to later get an internship at POLIS when they needed someone to do research on these topics. After the internship there was some follow-up and that led me to staying at POLIS after my studies.
Thinking back, what does the master represent to you?
One thing that I missed in the masters was the introduction of traditional urban planning concepts – so that it would be more suited to someone with an architecture engineering background. Being a political scientist, it was very important to me that the master deals with texts on the topic of housing, theories from the field of criminology and theories related to critical urban studies. The critical ´whys´ behind the different forces that drive the city are very much needed to understand how cities work.
"Being a political scientist, it was very important to me that the master deals with texts on the topic of housing, theories from the field of criminology and theories related to critical urban studies. The critical ´whys´ behind the different forces that drive the city are very much needed to understand how cities work."
Could you name one key lesson that you take from the program?
The programme presents you with a lot of topics and it gives you the possibility to delve into different areas of the urban. I think one of the key elements of the program is the variety, the flexibility and how it interconnects to all these different topics that should not be treated separately. Where do we develop our housing, how do we live? How do we use the land we have available? Everything is interconnected and this flexibility and this openness is one of the key lessons from the master. It gives you the possibility to understand the city and make sense out of that very complex environment. I know it doesn't sound concrete, but I believe it's the openness, variety and possibility to make sense out of a very complex environment that defines the master.
Do you have contact with other students or current students of your cohort or across cohorts?
We have been in contact at the professional level for sure. POLIS is also an organization recruiting several Alumni from the MUS program. For instance, I am currently working with an alumnus from the programme, not from my cohort, but we share similar reasons for doing the program. And we of course, reflect on where we started and how are we applying this in the work we do in this year, say in the context of European projects and in the context of bringing cities together in the topic of sustainable and innovation in transportation. For my cohort, we all have different paths. For instance, in the topic of mobility, I have a couple of colleagues from my cohort who work in other organizations like the POLIS network and dealing with sustainable transportation. I think we are somehow connected in our work life’s. I think at least 30% or 40% of my cohort stayed in Brussels.
"I would say urban studies is coming out of the basic discipline that was urban planning back in the beginning of the century. Then, throughout the years, we have gathered a bunch of studies linked to economics, linked to engineering, linked to architecture; it's a group of studies dealing with cities."
Can you describe Urban Studies in your own words?
It is a very broad concept nowadays; it is a group of studies. I would say urban studies is coming out of the basic discipline that was urban planning back in the beginning of the century. Then, throughout the years, we have gathered a bunch of studies linked to economics, linked to engineering, linked to architecture; it's a group of studies dealing with cities. As a professional, in my opinion, you must focus on something and try to specialize in that, but of course, having a background in these different studies give you a different understanding of things. However, perhaps having one focus will make your life easier. I still ask myself that question, but I think even if you specialize in something, you will realise that it is not much more different to anything else because it is all quite interconnected. The experience of working will give you a lot of tools to apply. Maybe to others who are still in the program and would like to start their career; here is the gist; do not be afraid of jumping, just jump. You know, life will give you a lot of tools in the way to find your ways [laughs].
It's very nice that you stayed for so long in Brussels, I think it is a very fitting city to the master.
It is complex, a lot of things going on. It is also the biggest centre of the political power in Europe. So, I dare to say, I mean, the job marketing process is tough. Let's say- I would think I was lucky to get an internship in POLIS, I think they gave a lot of value to people starting their careers really trusting the young people. That is not always the case though, in Brussels there is a lot of highly qualified people with skills. Like they speak many languages, and they are all in Brussels and sometimes the demand is not enough for the offer I think.
This interview was conducted in November 2023.