Strengthening academic research and culture at IHS has been a long-term commitment and complex process. With the launch of the new Strategy 2025-2029, "Shaping a better urban world", the institute will continue to sustain this positive change. In this interview with IHS Academic Director, Prof. Dr Dr Lasse Gerrits, we talked about the impact of research in the urban field.
Defining and measuring research impact
The new IHS Strategy emphasises the importance of impact. When asked what this means for the institute's research activities, Lasse explains: "It means that we always ask the question of what ways a research project may contribute to the desire to make cities better places for citizens". This contribution can be direct, such as through the development of a planning tool, or it can be indirect. "For example, think about how knowledge of how combinations of structural features contribute to urban poverty. It does not directly solve poverty, but understanding those features will point the direction for policy makers and the like to develop more effective policies."
Stakeholder collaboration
Lasse points out that collaboration with cities, governments, and other stakeholders plays a role in enhancing research impact. He shared: "There is a considerable role for such stakeholders". On a practical level, they can help guide researchers toward the issues they are facing. While this has its advantages, there is also a risk that short-term thinking may influence the research agenda. "A much more satisfying level of cooperation is achieved when stakeholders and IHS engage in a continuous dialogue – and I mean a dialogue that spans over many years – in which both groups develop a deeper understanding of each other", says Lasse.
"This approach helps avoid a common pitfall in academic life: being disconnected from real-world issues."
It also mitigates the risks faced by urban practitioners, who might focus too much on symptoms while overlooking the underlying structural factors that contribute to urban problems.
"Scholarly research is very much about discovering – and sometimes rediscovering – the intricate complexity that characterises the urban world."
The role of the IHS PhD programme
According to Lasse, in many ways, the PhD programme Urban Development & Governance is already creating an impact. All PhD research at IHS is grounded in real-world problems ranging from improving urban and transport resilience to understanding the factors that make spatial planning reforms more effective and efficient. PhD researchers at IHS have the unique opportunity to dedicate four years to deeply exploring a specific topic, emerging as specialists in their fields. The knowledge they create has direct relevance to the outside world, and as graduates, they are positioned to play key roles in tackling urban challenges. When asked what advice he would give to other researchers, Lasse said: "Listen and observe carefully! This is both easy and difficult." It's easy because it simply involves going out into the world and observing what happens. However, it is also immensely challenging because it requires researchers to set aside their assumptions about how things work. This is one of the challenges that PhD researchers encounter.
Looking ahead
When asked about the future of research at IHS over the next five years, Lasse shared, "I hope and expect that IHS’ researchers at all levels of experience will challenge what we think we know already." Scholarly research is very much about discovering – and sometimes rediscovering – the intricate complexity that characterises the urban world.
"In practical terms, I would like to see IHS become a strong node in the global knowledge network for urban development research."
