Leading global institutions launch alliance to advance human-centric urban research

VIENNA,July 2, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- Five globally respected academic institutions have come together to launch theGlobal Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies– a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking. The partnership was announced today at theSingapore Management University(SMU) City Dialogues held inVienna, taking place as part of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025.

The founding members of the alliance are:

• The Urban Institute, Singapore Management University
• The Initiative on Cities, Boston University
• The Department of Geography and Environment, TheLondon School of Economics and Political Science(LSE)
• Melbourne Centre for Cities, University of Melbourne
• The School of Cities, University of Toronto

Representatives from the five founding institutions signed an agreement at a networking reception of theSMU City Dialogues Vienna.

Formed around a shared vision of interdisciplinary and human-centred urban research, the Alliance aims to deepen understanding of how city dwellers sense, navigate and shape the urban environments they inhabit. This includes examination of the social and cultural norms, social networks and economic linkages – the"soft infrastructures"– that underpin resilient and sustainable cities.

In an era of accelerating digital transformation, the Alliance embraces the fusion of critical social science with data science to offer fresh, actionable insights into urban life. By recognising people assensors,enablersandactuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies.

The Alliance will collaborate through:

• Joint research initiatives and academic publications
• Co-hosted workshops and global conferences
• Faculty and student exchanges
• Responsible data-sharing protocols that uphold privacy and confidentiality

The founding institutions extend an open invitation to like-minded academic institutions to join the Alliance in advancing a collective understanding of sustainable, people-first cities.

Speaking at the SMU City Dialogues Vienna, the founding institutions underscored their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and global network of urban researchers.

ProfessorOrlando Woods, the Director of the Urban Institute atSMU, said,"The joint vision is to pursue interdisciplinary research that views cities through a human-centred lens to shape sustainable urban societies and promote urban resilience. This exciting collaboration will deepen knowledge in an important field across the founding institutions, and it encompasses joint research projects, academic publications and workshops and conferences. It is also empowered by student and faculty exchanges, and data sharing initiatives that safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and security of individuals'data.  We welcome like-minded academic institutions to join this alliance."

ProfessorLoretta Lees, the Director of the Initiative on Cities atBoston University, said,"The Initiative on Cities atBoston Universityis an interdisciplinary research, learning and practice centre focused on resilient and liveable cities. To be resilient and liveable, cities must be socially sustainable, and we need to understand how individuals and communities perceive, interact with, and are affected by urbanisation and the urban environment. Ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities in cities is important because this affects well-being and quality of life. Investigating urban community building and socio-cultural interactions and connections is strategic in terms of building human resilience to shocks, environmental, economic, or other. Working with like-minded urbanists globally is critical towards these goals, and we are very excited to be a part of launching this global urban alliance."

ProfessorHyun Bang Shin, the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment at theLondon School of Economics and Political Science, said,"The Department of Geography and Environment at LSE embodies international excellence through its diverse community of globally engaged academics, researchers, and students. Our work addresses some of the world's most pressing urban challenges, combining rigorous academic inquiry with applied, policy-relevant solutions. Committed to fostering sustainable, equitable, and inclusive urban futures, we produce research that informs global debates, shapes practice, and empowers communities—from informal settlements to global cities—towards more just and resilient urban worlds. We are excited to be part of this global alliance on sustainable urban societies and look forward to working together with like-minded urban scholars across the world."

Associate ProfessorCathy Oke, Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities, said,"At the Melbourne Centre for Cities we believe strongly in the importance of international collaboration between and amongst cities and universities, to further urban scholarship policy and decisions informed by lived experiences, shared goals, challenges and opportunities faced by urban settlements around the world. We're delighted to be part of this global alliance, and look forward to finding new opportunities to help leaders and citizens as they shape just, thriving cities."

ProfessorKaren Chapple, Director of the School of Cities, and Professor, Department of Geography& Planning, at theUniversity of Toronto, said,"The School of Cities is delighted to be a founding member of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to advancing inclusive, interdisciplinary urban research that centres the lived experiences of residents and city-builders. By working collaboratively across continents and disciplines, we can better understand the complex social fabrics that make cities resilient, and co-create solutions that are both innovative and grounded in the realities of urban life."

About SMU Urban Institute

Set up on17 January 2024, the SMU Urban Institute plans to forge an interdisciplinary research agenda that bridges theoretical and applied research, data science and the critical social sciences, industry and academia, andSingaporeandSoutheast Asia. It seeks to synthesise and cultivate thought leadership and innovative solutions, inform policy decisions, and drive sustainable urban development practices for the development of more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant cities. Organised into three pillars –Urban Life, Urban Growth and Urban Infrastructure – it aims to address the evolving urban challenges that confrontSingaporeand key Asian cities.https://urban.smu.edu.sg/

AboutBoston UniversityInitiative on Cities

TheBoston UniversityInitiative on Cities is a global urban research and policy center, founded in 2014, that serves as a bridge between academic research and real-world urban challenges. By leveraging the interdisciplinary expertise ofBoston University'sfaculty and connecting it to practitioners, policymakers, and communities, the IOC seeks to advance more livable, resilient, and just cities. Learn more at www.bu.edu/ioc.

About theLondon School of Economics and Political Science

The Department of Geography and Environment at theLondon School of Economics and Political Science(LSE) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic and urban geography, planning, environmental social science, and climate change. Accommodating the largest concentration of urban scholars at the LSE, the Department's research expertise is grounded in social sciences and policy relevance, excelling in six key areas that encompass city economies; housing, land and property; regional economic development; sustainability and environmental economics; global urban worlds; and environmental politics and justice.

About the Melbourne Centre for Cities

The Melbourne Centre for Citiesis a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary initiative at theUniversity of Melbourne, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. It leverages evidence-based research and bridges the gap between urban scholarship and policy-making, driving deeper academic understanding and transformative policy centred on key themes of urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity.

About the School of Cities,University of Toronto

The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at theUniversity of Torontoand in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices.

The School of Cities is playing a critical role in addressing climate change and justice, migration and belonging, inequality and democracy, and the world's collective ability to address urgent urban challenges.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/leading-global-institutions-launch-alliance-to-advance-human-centric-urban-research-302496572.html

SOURCESingapore Management University