Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Sustainable Urbanism: Field trip to Lille, France
First year students on the BA Human Geography, BA Human Geography and Planning, BSc Geography and BSc Geography and Environmental Science courses recently returned from a field trip to Leeds’ twin city of Lille in Northern France as part of their Sustainable Urbanism module.
The trip was led by Dr Neil Evans and accompanied by Dr Andre Pusey and Charlotte Morphet and continues our long-standing relationship with Lille City Council and the Lycee Pasteur college, with 63 students participating in this year’s trip.
On their first morning in Lille our students participated in a lively ‘speed networking’ activity with real estate students from the Lycee Pasteur. Subsequently the students participated in a programme of guided tours and other activities showcasing the innovative sustainable developments that are being delivered in Lille put together by urbanists from Lille City Council and assisted by teachers from the Lycee Pasteur.
Visits included a guided tour of the Fives Cail regeneration site, where a former steelworks has been repurposed into an eco-district with a focus on food, a talk on what the Lille metropolitan authority is doing to promote ‘soft mobility’, and a tour of Euratechnologies – a huge 50 million Euros redevelopment of an old textiles mill into a centre for start-up industries - which also features an impressive sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) next to the development.
On their return to Leeds, the students will write a report evaluating Lille’s success in striving to become a more sustainable city.
A group photo in Lille
The opportunity to spend four days in Lille was both incredibly interesting and fun. There was a great balance of guided informative tours, and the ability to explore the city on our own. Whilst the around nine-hour coach journey was challenging, it was fully worth it to gain an in-person experience of a new city.
The trip allowed us to see first hand the theories of sustainable urbanism we have been discussing in Neil’s lectures, connecting us with the professionals that are making it happen in Lille. Meeting the planners behind the Fives Cail project, or the architect behind Eurotechnologies gave us all a real insight into the work going on in Lille, as well as an exposure to potentially the type of careers modules like this open to us. The opportunity to go on this field trip at this time of year also allowed for team building to take place throughout the entire group. With group activities, and plenty of free time to explore Lille the trip allowed us to bond with fellow course mates and return back to Leeds a closer group.
The "speed networking" event
An immersive lecture opportunity
Leeds Beckett students abroad
Articles written by Leeds Beckett students who have had the opportunity to undertake part of their studies overseas as part of our Global Mobility programme.
