Special Events

Unconventional Wisdom: Learning in International Development Practice

MIT International Development Group (IDG) 2nd Annual Conference & SPURS 45th Anniversary, MAY 2-3, 201

Website:www.unconventionalwisdom.mit.edu

Thursday, May 2nd

08:30‐09:30AM Registration and Breakfast

09:30‐09:50AM Welcome & Opening Remarks

09:50‐12:15PM Practices Through Unconventional Approaches: The Case of Medellín, Colombia

12:15‐01:00PM Lunch

01:15‐02:30PM Introduction--Keynote Speaker: Joan Closi Matheu, Under Secretary General, United Nations and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN‐HABITAT)

02:30‐04:00PM Fruitful Failures: How Practitioners Learn and Innovate from Mistakes– SPURS/Humphrey alumni/ae

04:00‐04:30PM Break

04:30‐06:00PM When Values and Priorities Collide: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Practice

Panel 1: Post Disaster Housing Challenges in Haiti

Panel 2: Urban Mobility Reform

Panel 3: Technology, Public Engagement, and Social Justice

06:00‐08:00PM Cocktail Reception & Networking

Friday, May 3rd

09:00‐09:30AM Registration and Breakfast

09:30‐10:30AM Critical Listening: Conversation with John Forester and Larry Susskind

10:30‐12:00PM Misperceptions about the City and Consequences for Planning Practice

12:00‐12:45PM Lunch

12:45‐02:00PM DUSP at the World Bank: A Panel Converstion with DUSP Alum at the Bank

02:00‐03:30PM Is The Role of Context in Effective Planning Practice

03:30-04:00PM Break

04:00‐05:30PM Roundtable discussions – International Development Education

Panel 1: Rethinking International Development Studies

Panel 2: Global North and Global South as it Reflected in the Design of Planning Place‐based Learning

Panel 3: International Collaboration between Academic Institutions in Support of Professional Development

05:30‐05:35PM Closing Session: Reflections from SPURS Directors