About
Project Cities is a university-community partnership
Project Cities connects community partners facing sustainability challenges to faculty teaching courses at ASU to provide solutions developed by students through project-based learning
Project Cities connects higher education with local communities, creating a powerful combination of knowledge and know-how. ASU faculty and students in designated courses work directly with a local community partner on predetermined sustainability-related projects and challenges to propose innovative sustainability solutions that enable progress toward a better future.
Program goals
- Produce research-backed solutions for communities
- Prepare the next generation of sustainability leaders
- Provide project-based teaching and learning experiences
Program outcomes
- Develops viable solution options to complex, systemic challenges
- Engages stakeholders, students and city staff in transformative exploratory partnerships
- Generates semi-professional project summary reports detailing sustainability pathways and strategies
Program benefits
Communities
- Fresh, research-backed solutions to complex challenges
- Expert guidance while exploring new sustainability opportunities
- Additional capacity through students to further projects
- Access to an expansive network of sustainabilityscientists and scholars
Students
- Application of sustainability principles to real-world challenges
- Exposure to professional work environments
- Opportunity to meaningfully engage stakeholders
- Experience that enhances future employment pathways
Faculty
- Engage with community partners invested in sustainability
- Collaborate with colleagues on transdisciplinary projects
- Increase student engagement through project-based learning
- Media attention to courses and projects
Program affiliations
Sustainable Cities Network
Sustainable Cities Network is a vehicle for communities to share knowledge and coordinate efforts to understand and solve sustainability problems. The network fosters partnerships, identifies best practices, provides training and information and creates a bridge between ASU’s research and front-line challenges facing local communities.
Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities – Network (EPIC-N)
EPIC-N is a nonprofit association of members all over the world. EPIC-N organization and member programs unite the human capital of universities with local governments and communities to improve the quality of life and social wealth for all involved.