What is it about?
GIS applications, mental maps and cartograms are used to show that the cultural background of a city determines the content of international partnerships of the university and motivates exchange students from abroad. Furthermore, the provision of cultural courses and experiences on campus increases the students’ attraction and engagement with the city. As a result the university reinforces its academic prospects, the urban planning procedure is enriched with information collected from temporary international residents, and the students acquire “soft skills” that will help them in their future development.
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Why is it important?
This manuscript addresses an interesting topic of the interactions among a city, its university and international students whose results are of great value for the stakeholders working in the field of the higher education and urban planning.
Perspectives
It is fascinating to explore patterns of institutional decisions and human perceptions with the application of unconventional mapping.
Helene Simoni
University of Patras
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The University of Patras, Greece, its city, and international students: insights from multiple cartographic perspectives, European Planning Studies, June 2019, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2019.1632270.
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Resources
Simoni H. 2018: Mapping Places and Relations: Representations of the city of Patras and its reflections in the academia through cartography
In this paper the art of cartography is employed with a double mission. First, digital cartography (GIS) is used to provide quantitative data as to how the cultural profile of a city is reflected in the implementation of the international relations of its Higher Education Institutions. Then, mental cartography is applied to provide qualitative insights as to how international members of the academic community visualize their life in the city. The case study is drawn from a course on Greek culture and civilization, offered to all international students of the University of Patras (European Capital of Culture 2006). The main arguments presented here are: a) The enhancement of the cultural image of a city can act as an attraction factor for establishing partnerships between Higher Education Institutions in the field of cultural studies and, b) University courses on art and culture can encourage active engagement of international exchange students in their host cities. The expected benefits are manifold. The academic community is facilitated in implementing its international aspirations, the city authorities gain information about the city function from an alternative source, and the students find a creative way to convey their emotions, experiences and comments.
Simoni H. 2014: Multiple cultural strata and one urban identity: challenges and opportunities in Patras, Greece
Paper in Burdusel, E.-N., O. Matiu, D. Preda & A. Tomus (eds): Cultural Encounters: The mosaic of urban identities. Proc. of the 7th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference of the University Network of the European Capitals of Culture, Marseille 17-18/10/ 2013, p. 97-111, 2014
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