MASTER IN “GEOGRAPHY, GOVERNANCE AND ECONOMICS. INSTRUMENTS, METHODS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR TERRITORIAL MANAGEMENT” OF UNIVERSITY OF VERONA. OVERVIEW, REFERENCE DOCUMENTS AND CARTOGRAPHIC PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Analisi del territorio, interpretazione della sua complessità, individuazione delle dinamiche di sviluppo (o di regressione) e formulazione di scenari funzionali alle scelte politiche territoriali rappresentano idee guida intorno alle quali si è strutturata l’iniziativa formativa cui si riferisce nel presente contributo. Si mostreranno in sintesi, inoltre, la “mappa” del cofinanziamento al servizio della formazione, gli obiettivi programmati, i protagonisti, i quadri strategici e le priorità di intervento sulla base dei quali si sono realizzate esperienze di stage nell’ambito della rappresentazione cartografica strettamente connessa ad un quadro di sviluppo relativo alle nuove tecnologie ICT applicate al territorio. Fondi strutturali, politiche di coesione, regolamenti CE, obiettivi connessi, in primis, la cooperazione territoriale e la competitività della Regione Veneto si intersecano ed esplicano attraverso la creazione di competenze rivolte alla gestione di territori complessi. All’interno di questi ultimi si innervano dinamiche strettamente legate alla nascita di sistemi locali e di innovativi approcci di governance per il governo del territorio.Territorial analysis, interpretation and identification of development paths, scenario-building exercises represent the concepts to which we referred when structuring the master degree henceforth presented. The paper is divided into two parts (reflecting the organization given to the course). In the first one - in order to facilitate the understanding of current trends - we describe the rational behind such a project and discuss its theoretical underpinnings [making explicit reference to the debate over local (economic) development)]. Emerging local and regional systems act progressively more as gateways through which (economic) knowledge is transferred and as key nodes of the worldwide network channelling economic efficiency and growth. Policies aimed at enhancing competitiveness gain more relevance, also because of the societal and territorial re-organization those processes imply. In order for the students to acquire the theoretical tools necessary to better understand territorial dynamics, part of the degree focuses on analysing participatory governance mechanisms currently implemented (baring in mind the role social relationships play as a structuring factor that triggers interactive learning and interconnects individuals and organizations). In the second part of the article, we offer an overview of the EU co-funding schemes aimed at improving human capital training. We give information on objectives, actors involved, national and regional strategic frameworks programmes and priorities, structural funds regulations and the cohesion policy. A final paragraph will be specifically dedicated to describe internship experiences. The latter have been designed, in fact, in such a way that students were asked to both work within the field of cartographic/territorial research and use the latest ICT tools available (the training for which was given in a specific module)