📢 Applications for the 2025 cohorts are open

Register now

📢 Applications for the 2025 cohorts are open

Register now

Start designing cities that work for
babies
toddlers
caregivers
everyone

The Urban95 Academy is a fully-funded executive education programme for municipal leaders worldwide to learn and develop strategies to make cities better for babies, toddlers and their caregivers.

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An online education
programme for city leaders

The course is delivered over seven weeks online and participants join a growing global network of practitioners working to improve the lives of children in their cities. Some cities will have the opportunity to study in-person in London and access other technical support. The Urban95 Academy is open to all Mayors, municipal leaders, city planners, designers and urban professionals working in local government.

The Urban95 Academy is a joint collaboration between the Van Leer Foundation and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Who we are

  • 7 weeks of online learning, with weekly live sessions
  • Opportunity to study in London
  • Language: English
  • Completion certificate from LSE
  • Price: Free to participants

Explore the Urban95 Academy

Blended Learning

The Urban95 Academy online course consists of two components: 15 online modules and 7 weekly live Zoom sessions. Two to three online modules are released each week including a mix of readings, videos, and assignments to complete. Course material is discussed in the seven 60-minute live Zoom session with LSE faculty, with guest speakers and fellow cohort participants.

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Programme Outline

The online course content is divided into three components: vision & analysis, strategy & delivery, and leadership. Topics covered throughout the seven weeks will include neighbourhood design, mobility for families, social and environmental challenges, transforming behaviour through design, and principles of creating playful public spaces.

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Residence Week 

Based on the final strategy assignment and overall participation and engagement in the online course, 10 cities from each cohort are invited to come to London and take part in an all-expenses paid residence week at the LSE including intensive workshops, London site visits, public lectures, and networking opportunities.

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Urban95 Academy Network

Upon completing the programme, participants join the Urban95 Academy alumni network and are invited to join the U95A Alumni LinkedIn group to connect with the wider alumni community and stay up to date with academy news and upcoming events.

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You will learn how to

Evaluate what matters for young children and caregivers and build your baseline to measure long-term impact.

Build collaboration and innovation across departments.

Navigate complex systems of stakeholders and sectors to effect change.

Design urban policies, programmes, and projects for positive behavioural change.

Design accessible neighbourhoods, public spaces, and transport systems that work for everyone.

Develop your leadership and influencing skills to bring more people to support the early childhood agenda.

How to apply

Benefits

World-leading Education


The programme is designed & delivered by LSE Cities in LSE’s School of Public Policy. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the London School of Economics and cities with the most promising ideas for taking action will be invited to a fully-funded, intensive, week-long, in-person training in London on the LSE campus.

Continued Support

Upon completing the programme, cities may be eligible to receive additional technical support from Urban95 Academy partners and are invited to join the Urban95 Academy global network of city leaders who are improving the lives of babies, toddlers and caregivers in their cities.

Applied Knowledge

The programme focuses on analysis, strategy, and leadership with case studies from a range of cities that have already delivered Urban95 programmes. The online modules cover policies and programmes on mobility, public space, neighbourhood planning, accessibility, equity and inclusion.

“The opportunity to exchange experiences with other cities is so relevant to us. We want to make our city an example to other cities in the matter of Early Childhood Development and child-friendly city design.”

Caio Cunha
Mayor, Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil  

“For Dublin, we need to have a whole city approach and that requires the planners, the traffic engineers, the urban landscape, and the city councillors to understand the Urban95 agenda, how important it is and how achievable it is.”

Cat O'Driscoll
Dublin City Councillor  

“The Urban95 Academy opened my eyes to another way of doing things that are still within the construct of working in city government.”

Adonis Duckworth
Senior Transportation Advisor to Seattle Mayor  

Frequently
asked questions

Visit our FAQs

What is Urban95?

The Van Leer Foundation’s Urban95 initiative works with city leaders, planners, architects, and engineers to support the healthy development of young children growing up in cities. It is driven by a simple question – if you could experience the city from 95cm – the height of a healthy 3-year-old – what would you change? Its goal is to support healthier, safer, fairer, and more vibrant cities for young children and for those who care for them. Click here to learn more.

Who can apply to the Urban95 Academy?

The Urban95 Academy is open to Mayors and municipal leaders from all local governments. This includes city planners, designers and other urban professionals working for local city government. If you are not a city official but have an established history of working closely with a local government for example as part of an NGO, you can form a team with the municipality you are working with.

How much time do I need to commit to attend the academy?

The Urban 95 Academy takes place over seven weeks across 15 online learning modules and seven weekly virtual meetings with LSE academic faculty and guest lecturers. Participants should expect to commit roughly four hours per week to the online course.

Participants of city teams that are selected to attend the fully sponsored Residence Week in London will need to be able to travel and participate in a range of events and in-person training over the course of the week at the LSE in London. The Residence Week takes places three months after the online course.

Urban95 Academy Network

Taking part in the Urban95 Academy connects you to a growing network of engaged and motivated urban practitioners around the world, who are working to improve the lives of young children and caregivers.

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