Visiting international fellows share insights, enhance MIT’s learning environment

Mamu Hage, a district deputy commissioner based in Arunchal Pradesh, India, discusses her work with DUSP graduate students Priyanka Salunkhe and Temunlen Enkhbat. At MIT, Hage is focused on the development of smart and sustainable cities, exploring best practices from other countries that can be adapted to India’s context, and gaining insights through cultural exchange. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Ivandro Rodrigues discusses his research with DUSP Associate Professor Gabriella Carolini. An engineer and civil servant from Angola, Rodrigues plans to explore the expertise needed to propel Angola's National Space Program, particularly in the use of communication satellites for remote connectivity and developing space applications for sustainable development. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Rizqa Hidayani (center) is an urban planner and program manager for the Climate and Urban Resilience Division at the Kota Kita Foundation in Indonesia. At MIT, Hidayani will focus on inclusive approaches for building climate-resilient cities and communities, such as low-carbon development, climate-adaptive housing, green infrastructure, public green spaces, and placemaking, including a deeper understanding of community-centric design methodologies and exploring innovative awareness strategies that promote climate justice. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Hilda TN Nathnael (at right), an engineer and transportation specialist from Namibia speaks with DUSP graduate students Amanda Kusumawardani (left) and Natalie Ng. While at MIT, Nathnael aims to engage experts in transport policy, sustainable mobility, and livable cities; master smart mobility tools, analytical dashboards, and performance indicators to enhance transport systems and elevate service quality. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Ru’a Al-Abweh, a community organizer, leadership coach, and urban planner based in Amman, Jordan, discusses her research with Pedro Evora Amaral, a Loeb Fellow at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. At MIT, Al-Abweh plans to explore strategies that focus on shaping a future generation of "spatial justice activists"—organized collectives that shape public places in line with civic priorities and shift decision-making across sectors that shape the built environment. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Edmond Lloyd, Director for Zoning and Land Use Planning for Liberia’s Ministry of Public Works, has expertise in architecture, urban planning, engineering and environmental science. Through MIT’s interdisciplinary environment, he seeks to gain practical tools and global perspectives to inform inclusive and equitable urban policies for Liberia. (Photo: Maria Iacobo)

Published

October 9, 2025

The program for international urban planners is hosted by MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning

By Maria Iacobo

Fellows in the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies (SPURS) held a poster session recently highlighting their professional background and research interests. The poster session allowed fellows to share their current work with students across the School of Architecture and Planning and provided one-on-one discussions to explore possible research overlaps.

The SPURS Program was started in 1967 by the Department of Urban Studies and Planning and hosts mid-career urban practitioners from countries around the world. This year, 13 distinguished practitioners from 12 countries are at MIT; ten of the fellows are recipients of the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, a Fulbright program for practitioners. The others are outstanding scholars and entrepreneurs who have had a major impact on urban policies.

While at DUSP, the fellows develop their knowledge and skills and grow their professional networks by attending classes, engaging in planning and development-oriented research, and building collaborations with U.S.-based and international organizations. The fellows also collaborate with DUSP students, sharing their practical experience enriching the learning environment.

View the session photos and learn more about the research interests of each fellow.