Teaching & Study
Building the next generation of urban scholars, thinkers and practitioners who will shape the future of African cities.
The Chair in City-Region Economies (CCRE) is committed to cultivating the next generation of urban scholars, thinkers and practitioners who will shape the future of African cities. Through a combination of advanced teaching, targeted training and research support, the CCRE offers a range of learning opportunities that integrate academic rigour with applied relevance. These initiatives are designed to build critical capacity among students, policymakers and professionals working across the domains of urban and regional development.
We currently offer the following learning opportunities:
Post-graduate bursaries
Our post-graduate and post-doctoral bursaries are typically available on a two to three year rotating cycle. The latest call for bursaries will be published here. Please follow our News & Events page to stay in touch about upcoming opportunities.
Teaching and training within the UFS
Members of our staff are actively involved in teaching and training within their respective departments. Courses of particular relevance to the Chair include:
- Department of Economics and Finance: Spatial Economics (honours)
- Centre for Development Support: Master of Development Studies
- Department of Urban and Regional Planning: Master of Urban and Regional Planning; Master of Human Settlements
Short learning programme
We are in the process of partnering with the UFS Business School to offer a part-time accredited Short Learning Programme (SLP) on ‘Urban and Regional Economics in Africa’.
Africa’s rapid urban transition presents both a major challenge and an historic opportunity for all-round development. This SLP equips participants with the economic insights and practical tools needed to understand and shape the forces driving African urbanisation—from land and labour markets to infrastructure, housing and municipal finance. It fills a critical gap in current urban training by placing economic analysis at the centre of African urban studies, combining global theory with locally relevant policy engagement.
The SLP is intentionally designed to be flexible to allow participation from a range of participants:
- policymakers and government officials working at national, provincial and local levels in Africa on urban planning, the built environment, economic development, housing, basic infrastructure, transport, finance and other functions;
- independent professionals, private sector practitioners, civil society members and representatives of donor organisations whose work engages with urbanisation in Africa;
- academics, students and independent researchers studying African cities or particular aspects of them.
Further detailed information on costs and registration will be posted here.