This is the annual RUPS and LED educational field trip. Students get the opportunity to see real-life challenges and solutions in their areas of study. This year, the field trip will take RUPS and LED students to Cagliari, Sardinia.
Itinerary:
Day 1: April 7th, 2026
- Morning: Introduction to Cagliari - We will be attending an introduction to Cagliari, focusing on their sustainable development strategy for the city, hosted by the Mayor and other local strategic actors. During the session, they will discuss both planning and local economic development dilemmas that the city has faced, and the ways in which these have been negotiated in order to come up with a viable plan that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects.
- Afternoon: Guided Walk with Alberto Tidu (University of Cagliari) - We will be doing a guided walk through the heart of the city and nearby places of interest. The walk will focus on the general theme of the trip - Developing a Viable Sustainable Development Strategy for Cagliari. We will visit cultural heritage sites and take in a ‘birds-eye view’ of the city and its surroundings.
Day 2: April 8th, 2026
- Morning: Tour of Port & Surrounding Area with the Former/Current President of the Port - We'll examine the regeneration of the port and its surrounding waterfront, which is currently undergoing significant regeneration. If possible, we'll take a walk around the port to discuss its transformation from a commercial port to a more tourist-oriented one. Local interested parties will be there to discuss how this fits into Cagliari’s overall vision for the city.
- Afternoon: Poetto - Coastal Resort Discussion & Visit - Poetto, a famed coastal resort area, has undergone many changes, especially regarding its transport networks and beach access. Interestingly, part of the regeneration crosses the boundary of two different local authorities, which must collaborate with each other to get the most out of the regeneration. Margheritta Fadda (an ex RUPs student (now working at the OECD in Paris) and daughter of a local industrialist, Sig. Emilio Fadda, will lead the visit. NOTE: We will travel to Poetto by local public bus to keep costs low.
Day 3: April 9th, 2026
- Morning: Sa Manifattura, CRS4 & Confindustria Tou - Our morning begins at Sa Manifattura (an ex Tobacco Factory) to explore industrial decline and the reuse/regeneration of an old industrial site as an educational/arts/conference centre and creativity hub (run by Sardegna Ricerche). We then move to the offices of Confindustria (5 minutes away) to explore both its role as a business and education organisation focussed on spurring manufacturing, and the story of CRS4. CRS4 has an interesting history as an innovation hub located outside the city. Although it is located in a very beautiful area and integrates well with the surrounding environment, it lacks the dynamism typical of an economic district, given its distance from the city and other companies. From both a planning and LED perspective, these initiatives will be very interesting to explore. Sardegna Ricerche and Alberto Tidu will lead the events. NOTE: We will be joined by Master’s students from LUISS (a private university in Rome.
- Afternoon: Tour of Molentargius Salt Flats - Our cultural visit takes us to Molentargius – a site of special environmental and economic interest (especially tourism) to the city. We have spoken with the site manager (Walter) and are currently getting prices for a range of options including: hiring bikes to ride around the salt flats and having their ‘tourist bus - open sided’ take us around. More details on molentargius can be found here: https://www.cittadelsale.com/en/guided-tours/. NOTE: Wear comfortable clothing! We will probably walk to Molentargius from Sa Manifattura - after lunch.