Grigorii Merenkov

As a graduate of Leiden University with a degree in Urban Studies, I specialize in spatial planning and humanities. During my studies, I have participated in the project on improving participation among students and the university staff in regards to the new Binnenstadsplan 2033 for the inner city of the Hague and the new Leiden University building plan. My key role involved introducing co-creation tools and arranging stakeholder meetings to ensure a high quality participation towards the end goal of the project. After graduation I have completed a Google course on project management fundamentals to support and strengthen my knowledge of the field. 

During my studies I have completed an internship at IHS Erasmus University Rotterdam in the department of Urban Socio-Spatial Development. I was supporting the academic staff in running the one-year MSc Urban Management and Development(UMD) programme by conducting research focusing on most effective practices regarding SDG 11 (Sustainable Development Goals), supporting to run the GLUT game (Gaining from Land Use Transactions) as a course for master students, as well as participating in the development and backstopping of the Namibia Sustainable Urban Development Fund.

At Leiden University I learned how to manage sustainability, safety, and health of people in cities, taking into account the global population and rural-urban migration increase. The program covered key fields of spatial analysis (GIS), economics, circular economy, criminology, and urban ethnography. I learned to utilize R programming language and SPSS for statistical analysis, as well as Arc GIS Pro, Microsoft Office and CryptPad for urban project management.