capstone brochure

Sciences Po’s Urban Affairs Master Programmes provide unique training in urban governance. Since their inception, both programmes, the ‘Master in Regional and Urban Strategy’
and the ‘Master Governing the Large Metropolis’ have incorporated a capstone project into
their programme as a core and compulsory component of the first year curriculum (Master 1). The Master in Regional and Urban Strategy (STU) trains students for strategic and
operational positions in French and European urban and territorial environments, while the
Master, Governing the Large Metropolis (GLM) is focused on urban governance and public
policy issues in large cities.
I. THE URBAN MASTERS CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
WHAT IS A CAPSTONE PROJECT?
The capstone project is a unique pedagogical tool which places the students in a professional
setting where they respond to the real demands of a public institution, private organisation or NGO.
The project enables the students:
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To mobilise the theoretical training they have acquired during their urban studies;
To benefit from training and gain experience being in permanent contact with urban affairs
professionals;
To develop skill sets favoured by recruiters: project methodology, team work, responsibility,
organisation.
To produce high quality work and reports for the participating partner organisations.
HOW DOES A CAPSTONE PROJECT WORK?
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A dedicated team of 4 - 6 students coming from a variety of academic backgrounds; Sciences
Po’s undergraduate program, engineering and management schools, international universities, etc., work on the capstone project one and a half days per week.
A coordinator and treasurer are designated at the beginning of the project.
A sound methodological framework is assured by the presence of a professional tutor or
specialist with relevant experience, who oversees the work produced and provides guidance
and scientific advice.
The assignment is jointly supervised by the Masters in Urban Affairs team at Sciences Po and
the partner organisations at all stages of the project.
THE FINAL PRODUCT?
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Written reports and Powerpoint presentations.
Exhibitions and video presentations.
Organisation of study trips and workshops.
Public presentations of the results.
SOME EXAMPLES OF DELIVERABLES
STU
‘‘Homeownership: The role of
local Government’’,
research project for Nexity.
http://tinyurl.com/knze5fr
‘‘Constructing the city’’,
research project for the
Fabrique de la Cité (Vinci).
http://tinyurl.com/navuphz
GLM
‘‘Urban political analysis of large cities
and their regulatory environments’’,
research project for APUR
http://www.apur.oles _ synthese.pdf
‘‘Compact City Policies’’,
a research project for the OECD
http://tinyurl.com/bbb49xv
WHO CAN COMMISSION A CAPSTONE?
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Local Government;
Business;
Community Associations;
NGO’s;
Management consultants;
Development Agencies;
Architecture and urban design studios
Government agencies;
Intermediary institutions etc.
WHAT IS A GOOD PROJECT?
A good project:
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responds to questions that are important to the commissioning organisation;
is feasible given the university calendar and available resources;
presents the project objectives clearly and questions to be explored;
identifies realistic goals and communicates the expected results precisely to the group.
The design of a Capstone project and its final deliverables is the result of an open discussion
between the partner organisation and the Masters in Urban Affairs team.
II. PROPOSING A CAPSTONE PROJECT: WHICH MASTERS
PROGRAMME, STU OR GLM?
STU
GLM
Areas covered include public policy,
economic development, territorial strategies of business, urban development,
social welfare policy or sustainable development, etc.
Large cities and their: governance; economic development; social inclusion issues; mobility and transport; regulation
and supply of water; energy policy, etc.
WORKING
LANGUAGE
French; in rare cases English or
Spanish
English; in rare cases French or
Spanish
DURATION
9 months; September - mid-June
5 months; late January - mid-June
March-June: Project proposals welco-
April-October: Project proposals
TOPICS
COVERED
PROVISIONAL
DATES
med and definition of terms of reference
September: Finalisation of the
commissioned project, formation of
teams and selection of tutors
October-December: First project
phase
December: Intermediate submissions
January-April: Second project phase
and fieldwork
May-June: Conclusion of the project
welcomed and definition of terms of
reference.
October-November: Negotiations and
finalisation of projects and agreements
January-February: First project phase
March-April: Intermediate submissions
May-June: Conclusion of the project
III. HOW TO SUBMIT A CAPSTONE AND FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS
THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CAPSTONE?
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March-June to begin a project in September or October with the Master STU.
April-October to undertake a project beginning in December with the Master GLM.
FORMALISING THE CAPSTONE
Organisations interested in commissioning a project must submit a document containing the
following:
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a description of the organisation, specifying the unit and department;
an outline of the project including desired skill sets and final deliverables.
THE SIGNING OF A PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
An agreement is signed by the partner organisation and Sciences Po. The agreement sets out
clearly the project objectives and conditions under which the project is to be realised by the
participating student group.
TERMS OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Commissioning partner organisations make a financial contribution to:
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Cover the operating costs of the project, for example, to pay the travel expenses of students
undertaking fieldwork for the capstone project and the payment of the tutor’s salary;
Support two essential academic study trips within the Urban Affairs Masters programmes,
which makes it affordable for all students to participate.
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The budget is carefully monitored by the Masters in Urban Affairs team (Brigitte Fouilland and Irène
Mboumoua for STU, Régine Serra for GLM).
PARTNER ORGANISATIONS 2013-2014
STU
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Nexity
Réseau Ferré de France (RFF) / Délégation
interministérielle à l’aménagement du territoire et à l’attractivité régionale (DATAR)
Google
Agence nationale pour la rénovation urbaine
(ANRU),
La Fabrique de la Cité
French Agency for Development/ Agence
française de développement (AFD),
Société du Grand Paris (SGP)
GLM
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REPIN Project – Centre d’études
européennes, Sciences Po
OECD
World Cities Culture Forum (WCCF)
Climate Leadership Group (C40) & Siemens
Habitat Réuni
Electricité de France (EDF)
UN Habitat
APUR
ICLEI
“
Élodie MARPINARD
STU student M2 (2013-2014)
Above all, the capstone project is
about working as part of a team over
the course of a year, which allows us
to utilise and expand the knowledge
acquired in class. It is also an
opportunity to discover yourself while
interacting with the many different
interlocutors involved. This represents
a highly complimentary educational
experience, in addition to and beyond
the classroom.
TESTIMONIALS
“
Marie-Alexandra COSTE
GLM Tutor (2012-2013)
Capstone projects are a great opportunity for students to participate in
their first professional experience [while still at Sciences Po]. The students
have to work as team players and are faced with the management of a client
relationship. Assisted by a professional supervisor who provides a methodological framework, the students deal with all the aspects of a consulting
assignment: understanding the client’s needs, use of methodological tools
such as planning, budget, interviews, and finally deliverables that meet the
project objectives.
Contacts
BRIGITTE FOUILLAND, Director of the Urban Affairs Masters Programmes
Email : [email protected]
Tel : +33 01 45 49 59 68
IRÈNE MBOUMOUA, Project manager for master STU capstone projects
Research assistant to the ‘Cities are Back in Town’ programme
Email : [email protected]
Tel : +33 01 45 49 76 47
RÉGINE SERRA, Pedagogical director of the Master GLM
Email : [email protected]
Tel : +33 1 45 49 77 65
WEBSITE : http://www.sciencespo.fr/affaires-urbaines/en

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