Oct 01, 2025
CIPSEM’s 92nd UNEP/UNESCO/BMUKN Short Course concludes: Diverse perspectives, fresh momentum for sustainable mobility
SC92 closing ceremony: Happy participants, facilitators and the CIPSEM team together at TUD Dresden University of Technology, gathered for a fun and moving group photo after an eventful and inspiring course.
The 92nd UNEP/UNESCO/BMUKN International Short Course on Sustainable Mobility (SC92) concluded yesterday with a festive closing ceremony at TU Dresden. Over four weeks, participants from 20 countries engaged in lectures, excursions, and collaborative projects—united in their commitment to fostering solutions for more sustainable, just, and inclusive urban mobility.
About the SC92 Course
The public transport group presents their creative solutions for Königsbrücker Straße in the CIPSEM seminar room—lively energy and obvious fun during the case study session.
SC92 offered a multifaceted learning environment, featuring over 40 lectures, hands-on group work, excursions to Berlin and Dresden’s Transport Museum, country reports, coaching sessions, and a cycling tour. One highlight of the program was the Königsbrücker Straße case study. The group work mimicked a lively decision-making process. Participants assumed the roles of different interest groups—car drivers, public transport advocates, shop owners, and cyclists. Each group analyzed the situation and developed solutions from their represented perspectives, ultimately sharing and debating their proposals in a role-play scenario involving a fictional mayor. This immersive exercise illuminated competing priorities and fostered collaborative problem-solving skills among an international cohort.
Participants & Facilitators
SC92 closing ceremony: Happy participants, facilitators and the CIPSEM team together at TUD Dresden University of Technology, gathered for a fun and moving group photo after an eventful and inspiring course.
The course welcomed 22 professionals representing public administration, NGOs, research, and international organizations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Their expertise spanned urban planning, transportation strategy, climate policy, and sustainable development.
Facilitation drew on a wide network of contributors: faculty experts from TUD Dresden University of Technology (notably the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences), University of Kassel, IOER (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development), German Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), DVB Dresden, International Council on Clean Transportation, Fraunhofer IVI, UNU-FLORES, PlanAdapt, and practitioners from Berlin, Trier, and Dresden. The program benefitted from their diverse disciplines—including environmental science, transport engineering, resource management, urban development, and public administration.
Reflections from the Closing Ceremony
Prof. Dr. Angela Francke gives an inspiring speech at the closing ceremony of the 92nd UNEP/UNESCO/BMUKN International Short Course — Sustainable Mobility: Transforming Urban Spaces (SC92).
In her closing address, Prof. Angela Francke encouraged all participants not only to carry home knowledge, but to act as catalysts for change:
"You’ve done this, and I think we are not the same persons as four weeks ago. This course was a mosaic: all those little pieces—lectures, excursions, discussions—coming together. You now have a network to rely on and a suitcase of experience. Let this be a starting point, a catalyst, to convince decision-makers and communities to set new priorities. You can be the role model—making the earth a tiny bit better. Welcome to the CIPSEM family".
Anna Görner reminded participants of the bonds forged:
“Now you start a new life as alumni—not only of CIPSEM, but of TUD Dresden University of Technology. Please keep nurturing this network; our doors remain open for future collaboration and support”.
Regina Paredes Gorostieta Jimnez and Ashish Kumar Srivastava laugh together at the podium as they address the participants during the SC92 closing ceremony.
Representing the participant body, Regina Paredes Gorostieta Jimnez (Mexico) and Ashish Kumar Srivastava (India) shared powerful reflections:
Regina Paredes emphasized the global impact and essential nature of transport:
" Whether it's matatus in Nairobi or colectivos in Mexico, mobility shapes societies. These weeks showed me that change is possible—with knowledge, but most of all with courage and creativity. Transport is not just about getting from A to B—it's about opportunities, safety, and moving societies forward".
Ashish Kumar Srivastava highlighted the sense of community and lasting inspiration:
"CIPSEM is a house away from our home. The warmth and wisdom we carry will stay with us from the banks of the Elbe to the Ganges. Today is not the end, but a new beginning—we’re equipped to transform mobility in our countries and beyond".
Looking Forward
As the SC92 cohort joins the wider CIPSEM alumni family, the closing underscored a theme echoed by Einstein: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving". The mission for sustainable mobility continues—with renewed energy for meaningful change worldwide.