The International Development Studies (IDS) Group of the HGSP Department is an active teaching (bachelor, master and PhD levels) and research unit. IDS specializes in examining the link between global flows of capital and of people, and the associated implications for sustainable livelihoods and human wellbeing. Focusing on the crossroads of migration and investments flows, we analyze the consequences of new flows and circulations (of people, goods, capital and knowledge) for inclusive and sustainable development in Asia, Africa and Latin America. We emphasize actor-oriented approaches for understanding how localities are positioned in the increasingly globalized political economy, and how they develop over time. Theoretically, we argue that new linkages, flows and circulations merit a more central place in theorization about development. More practically, our research interrogates how policymakers, businesses, NGOs, and other actors can foster conditions for equitable and sustainable urban development, focusing in particular on land governance, climate change adaptation, food security and migration.
Utrecht University (UU) is a highly ranked European publicly-funded research university. It features an international learning and work environment with over 100 nationalities represented on campus. The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning (HGSP) centers its teaching and research programmes on urbanization, climate change, globalization, and infrastructural and technological change.
