What Ghada says about the Master's in Sustainable Urban Design

Ghada from Egypt

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your educational background?

"My name is Ghada and I grew up in Egypt where I pursued my undergraduate degree in Interior Design. During my undergraduate studies, I participated in TU Delft’s summer school on Planning and Design where I studied Urban Design and Water Management. Following graduation, I started working as an architect. I am interested in the intersection of the interior and the exterior, and I am driven by my desire to create connected, healthy, efficient, and livable places for everyone."

Why did you choose Lund University and why did this particular programme appeal to you?

"I chose Lund University because I knew that Lund was one of the top universities in the field of sustainability and urban design. In addition, Lund attracts a diverse set of passionate students which was appealing for me.

What do you think of the teaching style and the way of studying here?

"I love it. It’s an open, transparent, and collaborative environment. Lund has different forms of teaching through lectures, seminars, workshops, and site visits. The professors are extremely passionate about the topics we discuss and are always open to sharing and mentoring. I’m always engaged in dialogues with my professors and classmates on how we could design for people and the environment."

Have you been able to gain any practical experience during your studies so far?

"From day one, we started to work on hands-on projects from all over the world. The programme connected us with researchers, architects, and professionals from different companies and municipalities. For example, this semester we worked closely with the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to design Praha 11 district in the Czech Republic; Prague’s largest housing estate built in the modernist era.

Have you had any opportunities for networking within the programme?

"Absolutely! During the last three semesters, we worked with lots of architects from different leading companies such as Sweco, White Arkitekter, Cobe, and Gehl as well as Municipalities. For example, in an urban landscape course, we worked at a design site in Reykjavik, Iceland. We worked closely with the Reykjavik Municipality and shared our research with the Amsterdam University of Arts (Academy of Architecture) and the Boston Architectural College, whose students will be working on the same site."

What is it like to be an international student at Lund University and how international is your programme?

"In my Master’s programme, there are students from 15 different countries which is amazing. Given our collective experience especially during COVID-19, I consider them family. I am grateful and lucky to be working with, and learning from, a group that is this talented and passionate.

What is studying in Sweden like compared to studying in your country/other countries you studied in?

"Sweden is a much better place to live and learn compared to my previous studies. There are comprehensive libraries and well-equipped labs with a friendly learning environment. Specifically, in my course, I enjoyed combining theory and practice from the beginning of the project till the end. Among all the courses there is a focus on different scales from the smallest scale of streets to the global scale which makes the work challenging and exciting! All in all, I’m extremely grateful that I have chosen Lund University and it certainly helped me become more prepared for my career."

How do you like living in Sweden?

"I have fallen in love with Swedish culture and nature. First, the topography in Sweden is very interesting, and I love hiking and getting lost in nature. Secondly, I enjoy the “fika” habit, which is a break where we gather to have coffee and talk about life. My experience has been fun and filled with adventures!"

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"I will be looking for opportunities in Sweden and working with people from all over the world. I hope to continue working on projects that enable ecosystem resilience by integrating climate sensitivity in human-oriented urban design."