Urban Research and Development Center

Welcome to the URDC


We're committed to actualizing

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Focusing on Goal #11

Sustainable Cities and Communities

“Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, 

resilient, and sustainable."

​​Our Mission

The mission of Eastern Mediterranean University's Urban Research and Development Center (URDC) is to improve understanding of and deliver innovative responses to urban challenges by providing a forum of contributions to the quality of urban environment to promote sustainable urban settlements. ​Read More​ 


​News & Events​

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2024​​​






​​SERIES OF EVENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL / INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECTS


​Eastern Mediterranean University Urban Research and Development Center (EMU URDC) willbe organizing a 'Series of Events for the Development of National / International ResearchProjects' in the short and medium term in 2024, in collaboration with different non-governmental organizations and institutions within and/or outside the university; and/ordifferent academic units within our university.

The first event, organised in the form of a round-table discussion, in collaboration with theAcademic Trade Union of EMU - DAUSEN, will be on February 7, 2024, at 11.00 am in DAUSENLocal. During the event, Prof. Dr. İpek Akpınar, an experienced academic and researcher fromthe Faculty of Architecture of the Izmir High Technology Institute, will share her experienceswith us on EU and TÜBİTAK projects, focusing on sustainability.

THE EVENTS WILL BE OPEN TO THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY AND THE PUBLIC.






INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES​​​


Let us unite in action - through inclusive and accessible design in city spaces - to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities!


WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY 2023: LEARN GLOBALLY, APPLY LOCALLY


Every year, the 8th of November is celebrated as World Town Planning Day. It was Carlos María della Paolera, an Argentinian professor, who initiated World Town Planning Day in Buenos Aires in 1949.

On 8th November, every year, planners, urban designers, and communities worldwide celebrate how good planning improves people's lives and benefits society at large, creating places to live, work, and play together.

This year's theme is Learn Globally, Apply Locally, and it will focus on the value of learning from planning and planning cultures globally, fostering innovative, sustainable, and equitable solutions to address global challenges.

You are invited to join our special online webinar, endorsed by ISOCARP - the International Society of City and Regional Planners, on 8th November 2023.​

Register Here


 WORLD CITIES DAY 2023​​


World Cities Day brings Urban October to an end on 31 October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. As with World Habitat Day, a global observance is held in a different city each year and focuses on a specific theme.On 31 October 2023, the Global Observance of World Cities Day, under the theme  'Financing a Sustainable Urban Future for All', will explore how we can unlock transformative investment in urban planning and achieve adequate fiscal decentralization.
You may reach the concept note of World Cities Day 2023 through the link below:

Concept Note of World Cities Day 2023​



​INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL CHILD


 We must educate and empower girls! We must stand up against harassment! We must advocate and work for breaking inequalities and create just environments for all! #genderequality #reducinginequalities







A MESSAGE FROM EMU-URDC DIRECTOR, PROF. DR. ŞEBNEM HOŞKARA ON THE WORLD HABITAT DAY 2023​​​​


 The Director of the Center for Urban Research and Development (DAU KENT-AG) at the Eastern Mediterranean University, Prof. Dr. Şebnem Hoşkara, issued a message on the World Habitat Day 2023.  In her message, Prof. Dr. Hoşkara said: Read More


 


​EMU-URDC Releases a Statement on Rehabilitation of Kyrenia Harbour​​


 Eastern Mediterranean University Urban Research and Development Center (EMU-URDC) Executive Board Member and EMU Faculty of Architecture academic staff member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ege Uluca Tümer released a statement on the rehabilitation of Kyrenia Harbour Street. The statement reads as follows: Read More



​EMU URBAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (URDC) SUPPORTED A SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PROJECT CARRIED OUT BY DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS ON 1 JUNE WORLD CHILDREN'S DAY​


 On 1 June World Children's Day, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, in collaboration with EMU Academic Trade Union (DAUSEN), EMU Faculty of Tourism, and EMU Urban Research and Development Center (URDC), prepared a social responsibility project in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Read More



​EMU URBAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (URDC) SUPPORTED THE 5 JUNE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 'BEACH CLEANING EVENT' PERFORMED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS AT GLAPSIDES BEACH​​​


 The beach cleaning activity proposed and developed by the students within the scope of the elective course titled ARCH 320, The UN Sustainable Development Goals: An Interdisciplinary Approach for the Future of Our Planet, carried out in the Department of Architecture, was held on the morning of June 8, 2023, as part of 5 June World Environment Day.   Read More



​WORLD DAY for CULTURAL DIVERSITY for DIALOGUE and DEVELOPMENT​


Held every year on 21 May, World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development celebrates the richness of the world's cultures and the essential role of intercultural dialogue in achieving peace and sustainable development.A day not to be missed!​

21st of May has been celebrated as the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development since 2001. On this occasion, we join UNESCO to celebrate one of the most invaluable aspects of human life, that is, human cultural diversity, and the invaluable intellectual, social, cultural, and economic opportunities of development that it offers to humanity. 

Through the ongoing process of globalization, the world's people have become increasingly interconnected with each other. Technological advancements have made it possible for world cultures to interact with each other more than ever before and they can do that in increasingly more cooperative and constructive ways. Increased opportunities for intercultural interaction and dialogue make it possible for cultures to learn from each other and challenge each other to be more tolerant, flexible, creative, and open to development.​ Read More​


​EARTH DAY


 The #EarthDay is a reminder that we all have a role to play in protecting our common home and making peace #WithNature. Let us conserve energey, let us plant trees, let us reduce, reuse, recyle. Let us start today!“Let us all do our part to protect our common home for the sake of people and planet right now, and for the generations to come." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres #people #planet #conserve #recycle #reuse #reduce #produce

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Urban Research and Development Center (URDC) Executive Board Vice Director and EMU Architecture Faculty, Department of Architecture academic staff member Assist. Prof. Dr. Pınar Uluçay Righelato made a statement on the occasion of Earth Day 2023. The statement reads as follows:​ Read More​



18th April International Day for Monuments and Sites 2023​​​


The Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Urban Research and Development Center (URDC) has been celebrating the 18th April ICOMOS International Day for Monuments and Sites every year since 2011 through various awareness activities and collaborationsOn the International Day of Monuments and Sites, being held in 2023 under the theme 'Heritage Changes', an online panel was held in ​collaboration with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Sustainable Development Goals Working Group (SDGWG) between 17:00-19:00 on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. The panel hosted the following speakers: ICOMOS Nigeria National Committee member Dr. Tokie Laotan-Brown; Istanbul Technical University, Department of Architecture academic staff member and ICOMOS Turkish National Committee Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Eres, a Cardiff-Welsh School of Architecture researcher and Chair of the ICOMOS Jordan SDGWG Ms. Bayan El Faouri and URDC Central Executive Board Member and academic staff member of EMU Architecture Department Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ege Uluca Tümer.Organized under the title of “Heritage Changes: Vernacular Settlements and Climate Action", and under the moderation of EMU URDC Director Prof. Dr. Şebnem Hoşkara, answers were sought to the question "How can traditional knowledge inform innovative and transformative climate action?". The panelists delivered presentations evaluating the relationship between cultural heritage and climate through traditional and rural architecture examples from Jordan, Africa, Turkey, and Cyprus. Read More

 Watch

EMU Urban Research and Development Center’s 8 March International Women’s Day Message


 We have organized a panel discussion and an exhibition on 22 March 2023 to celebrate International Women's Day where 5 women architects' accomplishments were commemorated and honored in a panel discussion to raise awareness about gender disparities in the architectural profession. After the panel, an exhibition to celebrate the works of another 5 women designers was opened. The event was organized by KENT-AG and KEDAM, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture and was in Turkish. Read More​



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EMU URDC to Particip​ate in UIA2023 with the Nicosia Turkish Municipality Terminal Area Urban Renewal, Improvement and Design Project​



 The 'Nicosia Turkish Municipality Terminal Area - Urban Renewal, Improvement, and Design Project' prepared by the Eastern Mediterranean University Urban Research and Development Center (EMU URDC) in line with the demand from the Nicosia Turkish Municipality, Read More


EMU URDC GIVES THE “BARRIER-FREE ACCESS AWARD” TO BUSINESSES ON THE OCCASION OF THE 3 DECEMBER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES​​


 Within the scope of 3 December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Urban Research and Development Center (EMU URDC) presented the “Barrier-Free Access Award" to business corporations located at Famagusta İsmet İnönü Boulevard, which are “accessible without the help of a second person" for individuals with special needs. Read More


Celebrating Public Space on the Occasion of World Children's Day​​


World Children's Day is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide and improve children's welfare. The day devoted to children was ​​​​established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day. Read More​


​​​​EMU URDC'S MESSAGE ON 25 NOVEMBER INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN​​​

 

 Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Urban Research and Development Center (EMU URDC) released a statement on the occasion of 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The statement reads as follows: Read More



​WORLD TOWN PLANNING DAY 2022 - A SOCIAL MEDIA AWARENESS EVENT FOR WALKABILITY IN CITIES


Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Urban Research and Development Center (URDC) organized an awareness event on social media to draw attention to the problems in cities as part of the 8 November World Town Planning Day organizations. The event, which was held in collaboration with EMU TV, covers a news bulletin sketch shot with EMU graduate Aygün Kencer. Read More


Celebrating Public Space on the Occasion of World Cities Day​​


World Cities Day is the last day of Urban October on the 31st October each year and was first celebrated in 2014. Aglobal observance is held in a different city each year, and the day focuses on a specific theme, just like World Habitat Day.​Read More


Celebrating Public Space on the Occasion of World Habitat Day 2022​​​


 Every October, UN-Habitat (UN-HABITAT) and its partners organize a month of events and discussions on urban sustainability. The events, which start with World Habitat (Human Settlements) Day on the first Monday of October every year, and end with World Cities Day on October 31, are called Urban October. Read More


​​EMU AND FAMAGUSTA RAVELIN LIONS CLUB ORGANIZE ART AND CULTURE TOUR​​


 With the contributions of the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Rector's Office and EMU Urban Research and Development Center (URDC), the “Art and Culture Tour" for youngsters who live in the countryside was organized within the scope of Famagusta Ravelin Lions Club's 1st Ravelin Youth Event. Read More


Celebrating Public Space on the Occasion ​of International Museum Day


On International Museum Day, May 18th, 2022, we celebrate "public space" concentrating on the power of museums for sustainable development goals and public spaces. We would like to explore the potential of museums to enrich public space through art and education and to achieve sustainability by adding a positive change in their communities."Museums have the power to transform the world around us. As incom​​parable places of discovery, they teach us about our past and open our minds to new ideas — two essential steps in building a better future." (ICOM, 2022)​. Read More


​EMU RAISES AWARENESS REGARDING THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THROUGH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES


 Eastern Mediterranean University Urban Research and Development Center (EMU URDC) in collaboration with EMU Faculty of Architecture, organised an awareness event under the title “CALL FOR ACTION: We are SDGs!". Read More​


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