More than half the population of the world is now living in urban habitats. Asia is the fastest growing region in urbanisation. In the past decade, nearly half a billion Asians have moved to urban habitations, and the trend continues.

Cities and towns are centres of economic activity; they produce opportunities for livelihoods; they are educational and artistic hubs; they create cosmopolitan living spaces. Cities are also exclusionary; urban poverty is the fastest growing phenomenon, even in samlla nd medium towns; youth with limited skills are finding themselves under-employed in cities; access to basic service sof water, sanitation and housing for all the city-dwellers is far from reality.

It is in this milieu that institutions of  education (especially higher education) can support a process of making cities inclusive for all. Municipalities, local governments, mayors and councilors are in search of ideas and capacities that can transform cities into exciting spaces for all citizens.

What needs to happen to reallise thsi dream of inclusive cities? What constributions can educational institutions make? How can the enormous resources of HEIs be mobilised towards this vision of inclusive cities?

These questions frame the content that we want to focus on for the 5'th Global Dialogue on Community-University Engagement, what has become known as the 'Big Tent' statements.

Theme : Learning to Build Inclusive Cities : Putting Citizens in the Centre

Location: Hong Kong, PASCAL Cities Learning Together Conference, Nov 18-20, 2013. The communique to be presented in the conference on Nov 20

The Communique Team consists of Rajesh Tandon  (PRIA), Robbie Guevera (ASPBAE), Carol Ma (Hong Kong) and Manoj Rai (PRIA)

Please share your suggestions with the editorial team this time based at PRIA in New Delhi with collaboration from Carol Ma in Hong Kong and Robbie Guevara in Melbourne

All ideas and contributions to:

Rajesh Tandon/Manoj Rai  Manoj [email protected]

Warmest best wishes,

Budd Hall

Secretary
Global Alliance on Community-Engaged Research (GSCER)
University of Victoria
Canada