Members derive amongst others from the following professional and academic fields and therefore provide best experiences for an interdisciplinary discussions and projects: Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Sociology, Landscape Planning, Geosciences, Transport Planning, Urban Management, Development Studies, Urban Design, Geography, Heritage Conservation and Environmental Sciences.

It is aiming at providing a platform for the exchange of international professional experiences, research results and contacts related to the topic "Urban and Rural Development under the Influences of Globalisation, Transition Processes and New Technologies". Last but not least we are aiming at supporting and/ or initiating projects which foster sustainable development.

Target Group

Although there is a regional focus on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), participation from other countries is also welcomed to join the network.

Current MENA members: Azerbaijan, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan
other member countries: Vietnam, Indonesia, Columbia

A special focus of the network lies in the connection of young researchers and professionals with experienced network members and their institutions.

At the moment the network is open to all Alumni and project partners of the German Universities and participants of the Summer Schools. Every year there is a Call-for-Paper for the Summer School.

The website contains a database with profiles of member, their technical interests and contact details.

The network activities are co-funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, www.daad.de) and the Technische Universität Berlin (www.tu-berlin.de).

Activities

First National Co-ordinators Meeting February 2006
Summer School 2005 "Sustainable Development of Emerging Settlement Patterns"
Summer School 2004 "Urban Economic Development in a Globalising World"
Summer School 2003 "Capital City Planning under the Influences of Globalisation, Transition Processes and New Technologies"