PS-U-GO: Participatory Skills for Sustainable Urban Governance

We are excited to announce the launch of PS-U-GO—an innovative project aimed at addressing urban challenges through participatory action and collaboration. This initiative, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme, seeks to engage stakeholders from the quadruple helix—students, local residents, urban planners, and policymakers—to co-create solutions in real-life urban environments.

PS-U-GO stands for Participatory Skills for Sustainable Urban Governance. The project aims to establish Urban Living Labs (ULLs) that serve as dynamic platforms for civic engagement and urban innovation. By bringing together leading universities, research institutions, and NGOs, PS-U-GO fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders, creating a shared framework for implementing urban living labs.

Key Objectives

  1. Co-Production of Frameworks
    PS-U-GO will co-produce a shared framework for establishing ULLs as educational spaces, highlighting the importance of social and civic engagement in sustainable urban governance.
  2. Empowering Future Leaders
    Targeting students in higher education, particularly future architects and urban planners, the project will equip them with essential soft skills, competencies, and advanced participatory skills through immersive, real-world experiences.
  3. Innovation and Collaboration
    By collaborating with the entrepreneurial sector and public authorities, PS-U-GO aims to expose participants to innovation and entrepreneurship, thereby enhancing their governance skills and community engagement.
  4. Applied Interventions
    The project will deliver tailored interventions that reflect the unique contexts of each Urban Living Lab, creating resource-efficient and inclusive urban spaces.

A Transdisciplinary Approach

The transdisciplinary nature of PS-U-GO ensures its impact on diverse target groups, including students from architecture, urban studies, sociology, and human geography, as well as policymakers and civil society members interested in urban sustainability. The resources generated will serve as long-term assets for adapting and replicating the methodology within established educational activities.

Project Details

Partners: The project involves collaboration between University of Cyprus, Brandenburg University of Technology, CNR – IRISS, Palermo Urban Solutions Hub (PUSH), and SF:ius.

Duration: PS-U-GO will run for three years, starting from 29 December 2023.

For more information about the project, please visit www.psugo.eu or follow our journey on Instagram at @psugo_project.