Dedicated Minor Geography

Space matters. Countries, regions, clusters, firms, employees, entrepreneurs and institutions each have a spatial network of interactions and a spatial scope. We see this for example in the location choice of companies, both on a small scale (which office do I rent?) and on a large scale (in which countries do I set up new investments?). We also find this in the problem of regional economic development - how do my sectors compare to other regions? Why does my region suffer from brain drain?

This dedicated minor programme Geography focuses precisely on this geographical dimension of economic structures, processes and conduct. This dimension is directly and visibly expressed in the location behaviour of companies, the spatial patterns of economic activity, and the economic development of regions. The programme has a firm focus on the real world, both in theory and practice. Hands-on assignments range from location advice for a firm to a regional smart specialization strategy and from analyses of housing prices to the analysis of research networks. Moreover, several of the courses feature a field excursion.

The economy is, in the era of advanced information and communication technologies, becoming more and more connected. A growing number of businesses rely on sales in foreign markets, and labour markets are becoming more internationalized. Regional integration and globalizing value chains are visible in the unification of the European market and the rise of new economies in Asia. 

The dedicated minor consists of the following courses:

Please click on the courses below for more information.