This is Tomorrow

A unique 12-week education programme on contemporary urbanism, dealing with the Anthropocene, Migration and Right to the City. 

Apply now for This is Tomorrow, the centrepiece of our yearly education program! In this three-month course we use Rotterdam as a laboratory for research into social and spatial issues that are relevant to cities all over the world. Known for its harbour, its diverse working class population and its lively architecture scene, Rotterdam is also something of a frontline in the struggle for justice and equality in the capitalist world. At the same time, being a hub in the network of global trade, things that happen in Rotterdam have (in)direct effects in far-flung places around the world and vice versa. 

With This is Tomorrow we shed light on how the city functions and contributes to global issues such as climate change, migration and the right to the city and to explore how we can use research, art, (urban) design, history, and architecture to change things for the better. By both looking closely at local urban phenomena, as well as to global tendencies, we will see how the future is already here, at our feet and in front of our eyes. Through lectures, excursions and workshops, the programme offers participants the freedom to deepen their knowledge and to develop their own position towards the pressing urban issues of our time. 

Introduction: learning from rotterdam​
Week one & two / April 7–April 18, 2025
The first two weeks are dedicated to understanding the visible and invisible realities of Rotterdam. Through field trips, lectures and exercises, you will explore the urban landscape while meeting various professionals from within the network of the School.

Block I—migration: we, the temporary
Week three thorugh five / April 21–May 9, 2025
In this thematic block we will explore the lives and experiences of those who temporarily live in the city. From seasonal workers or undocumented migrants to international students and rich expats. We will investigate these temporary communities and see which role they play in local and global networks, mapping out their inner social, spatial and architectural environment, as well as the political and financial structures that have created them.

Block II—Anthropocene: to see the world in a soybean
Week six through eight / May 12–30, 2025 
In this thematic block we will map and unravel the global impact of the Rotterdam port, meaning the societal and environmental impact produced by the port itself and those parties and production processes responsible for, up and down its value chain. By focusing on one specific product—the soybean—we will highlight stories that expose the often-hidden impact of Rotterdam’s global trade.

Block III—right to the city: protest in the city
Week nine through eleven / June 2–June 20, 2025
In this last block we will look at the public space of the city as a place for protest, regarding activism as a discipline that involves revealing facts, building narratives and creating real-world impact. We will identify an urgent issue, create a counter position, and design a strategy to challenge it while proposing an alternative solution. 

Reflect and present
Week twelve/ June 23–June 27, 2025
Time to reflect on your findings and present the lessons learned! In the last week we will wrap up the course with some time to organise your thoughts and draw conclusions. 

How to apply
This intensive twelve-week programme fits within the 90 days period of a tourist visa to the Netherlands. The programme operates on a four-day workweek (Monday–Thursday) and costs 1,500 EUR. Applications, including a motivation letter, CV, and portfolio, must be submitted by February 28, 2025. More info here.