Create a Comprehensive Plan to Transform Your City into a Smart City Hub

The Smart City Planner Diploma program is an all-encompassing training, designed to empower professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead the development and implementation of digital transformation processes in smart cities. As a high-level official, a Smart City Planner must bridge the gap between traditional management and operational needs, smart and sustainable city frameworks, and the strategic priorities of the city's political leadership. Our program equips participants with the competencies required to develop a strategy and implementation plan that reflects the needs and visions of citizens and various stakeholders.

Furthermore, you will learn from exclusive case studies of successful German cities that have applied smart technologies to improve their urban infrastructures, making it an invaluable learning experience.

By the end of the program, participants will have developed the following outcomes:

10

New Smart Cities

Number of smart cities The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MMRA) is planning to develop as a part of the Saudi Vision 2030, creating new opportunities for smart city managers and professionals.

14,745.2

$ Million

The Saudi Arabia smart cities market size is projected to reach $14,745.2 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 19.6% from 2020 to 2027.

30,453

SAR

The Saudi Arabia smart cities market size is projected to reach $14,745.2 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 19.6% from 2020 to 2027, indicating a high demand for smart city solutions, services, and professionals in the country.

Become A Partner

This module will help you develop the knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to manage smart city projects effectively and efficiently. You will learn how to apply project management principles and practices to meet the project requirements, as defined by the Project Management Institute on their website www.pmi.org. You will also explore various knowledge areas of project management. For example, you will learn how to elicit, analyze, validate and document the needs and expectations of the stakeholders in project requirements management, how to plan, implement and control changes in the project scope, schedule, cost and quality in change management, how to estimate, budget and control the resources and expenses of the project in cost management, how to define, sequence, schedule and monitor the activities and milestones of the project in time management, how to ensure that the project deliverables meet the quality standards and criteria in quality management, how to identify, assess, prioritize and mitigate the uncertainties and threats that may affect the project outcomes in risk management, and how to plan, execute and manage the information flow among the project team and stakeholders in communication management. In addition, you will gain insights into agile methodologies for software project management, which emphasize collaboration, flexibility and customer satisfaction. You will also learn about the specific challenges and best practices of software projects, such as software life-cycle models, software estimation techniques, software quality metrics and team management. Finally, you will understand how to align your project objectives with your organization’s strategy for smart cities.
Learning Objectives:
  • To understand key principles in managing software projects.
  • To understand the strategic character of smart city development.
  • To understand that smart city development should be managed as a portfolio of projects.
  • To be familiar with the different methods and techniques used for software project management.
  • To be able to do Project Scheduling, Scope Management, Risk Management, Quality management, and Project Cost estimation using different techniques.

This module aims to provide the attendants with an overview of the concept of ambiguity tolerance, which is the capacity to deal with uncertain and complex situations. The module will cover the basic theoretical foundations and empirical evidence on ambiguity tolerance and its implications for performance and well-being in work settings. The module will also examine the variation of ambiguity tolerance across different ethnic and national cultures and the challenges of managing cultural diversity in ambiguous contexts.
Learning Objectives:
  • Define the concept of ambiguity.
  • Define the concept of ambiguity tolerance.
  • Discuss upon the distinction between ambiguity and ambiguity tolerance.
  • Investigate the nature and consequences of attitudes towards ambiguity and uncertainty at work.
  • Describe aspects of tolerance of ambiguity in organizations.
  • Describe the connections between tolerance ambiguity and cultural variability.

This module will help you understand the basic concepts of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and its importance to information system development projects. An SDLC is a series of related activities that are grouped into phases, which represent the “life stages” of an information system. An SDLC provides project managers with proper control and guidance over their software development projects. The main goal of an SDLC is to ensure that high-quality information systems are delivered to end-users and the productivity of the development staff is maximized. An SDLC can be explained through an SDLC model to facilitate the understanding of the SDLC phases. In this module, you will learn about some traditional SDLC models, such as Waterfall, Prototyping/Iterative, Incremental, Spiral, and V-Model. You will also learn about their advantages and disadvantages and their suitability for different types of projects. Moreover, you will be introduced to contemporary and more flexible SDLC models, such as the Agile model, which combines iterative and incremental development. You will also learn about the differences between the agile model and traditional SDLC models (e.g., Waterfall).
Learning Objectives:
  • Explain what SDLC is and describe the SDLC phases.
  • Get a general overview of traditional SDLC models (Waterfall, Prototyping/Iterative, Incremental, Spiral, V-Model) and identify the advantages/disadvantages of each model.
  • Provide an overview of what an “agile” SDLC is and how it is compared with traditional SDLC approaches (e.g., Waterfall).

The aim of this module is to help you develop competencies in emotional intelligence (EI), which is the ability to recognize, understand and manage your own emotions and those of others. EI is a transversal skill that can enhance your performance and well-being in any sector and situation. EI can help you to be aware of your personal feelings, to act on your intentions, and to make informed decisions.
Learning Objectives:
  • To improve the qualification of workers through the promotion of a series of transversal competences deriving from the use of Emotional Intelligence (Self‐knowledge, mood management, self‐motivation, empathy and managing relations).
  • To increase the motivation and satisfaction of the workers as they will be able to manage their work in an emotionally intelligent way.
  • To improve the quality of life for beneficiaries of the fields where this module was implemented.

This module will enable you to develop these skills in the context of globalization. The module will show you how national cultures shape the way business is conducted. It will also explain the cultural process and the factors that influence business relationships and performance.   This course will equip you with core cultural concepts, frameworks, and tools that will help you to deal with cultural diversity successfully.
Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the potential difficulties involved in international business relationships.
  • Improve your intercultural communication skills.
  • Deal with potential barriers in intercultural communication.
  • Explore tools to successfully manage cultural differences.
  • Develop further your intercultural competencies and soft skills.

The world today is complex and changing. The global competition challenges companies that use traditional methods and fixed processes. This module will stimulate your thinking and will teach you a different way of thinking and acting that can question the current status quo of companies.
Learning Objectives:
  • To understand the importance of design thinking change paradigm.
  • To identify the practical application of this competence and its impact on value creation.
  • To describe how can design principles be embedded into an organization.
  • To identify design thinking approaches as an answer to business challenges.
  • To understand how business cultures support or limit design thinking.

This module will help you understand the process and approaches of Decision Making and Problem Solving. You will learn about the general characteristics and scope of Decision Making problems, as well as the fundamentals, methods and techniques of Decision Theory. You will also learn how to deal with the uncertainty nature of most Decision Making problems, which requires special consideration in the problem solving approach. You will see how to analyze different Decision Making problems under uncertainty in a systematic way. You will also learn how to acquire the appropriate data, generate proper information, establish the solution alternatives, and determine the suitable decision criteria for making well-informed decisions. Moreover, you will learn how to identify the source of a problem and obtain an effective solution, which involves skills such as analysis, creativity, research, communication and team building. Furthermore, you will learn about the Decision Tree Analysis, which is a graphical solution approach to Decision Making problems, and the Linear Programming method, which is a mathematical solution approach to Decision Making problems.
Learning Objectives:
  • To realize the wide scope and characteristics of Decision Making and Problem Solving processes
  • To understand the concept of an appropriately developed mathematical model representing a Decision Making problem and be able to formulate this model for addressing the problem
  • To become familiar with the most widely used Decision Making and Problem Solving methods and tools (such as the Decision Trees and Linear Programming techniques)
  • To recognize the probabilistic nature of Decision Making problems and basic characteristics of Decision Making under uncertainty
  • To be able to apply the concepts and applications learnt to a real-world Decision Making problem

This course will help you understand the various aspects of leadership and how they affect organizational performance. You will learn how to lead people effectively and efficiently. You will learn about leadership skills, traits and behaviors that are essential for successful leaders. You will also learn how the digitalization era challenges and changes leadership.
Learning Objectives:
  • To highlight the difference between leadership and management.
  • To understand how personality traits influence leaders emergence and performance.
  • To learn and explain the influences leaders have on people.
  • To identify typical characteristics of successful leaders.
  • To describe different types of leadership.
  • To understand how top executives can influence organizational processes and performance.
  • To identify which new leadership competences are required in the new 4.0 environment.

This course will help you learn the latest knowledge management (KM) ideas, methods, tools and strategies that can help you deal with the challenges of organizing and managing knowledge. This course will also help you understand the current issues in information management, intellectual capital and other intangible assets by exploring and explaining the basic principles of information analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval, movement, dissemination and protection.
Learning Objectives:
  • To understand the difference between knowledge, data and information.
  • To understand what KM is.
  • To become familiar with KM in organizations.
  • To become familiar with KM models.
  • To become familiar with KM tools and applications.

Advanced Presentation Skills course will help you create and deliver more powerful presentations to increase your influence and impact with stakeholders. From calming your nerves to clarifying your message, the biggest thing standing in the way of engaging your audience with confidence is mastering public speaking skills. This course will enhance your skills and confidence by providing techniques to structure presentations in order to deliver effective messages to your audience. You will explore techniques to fine-tune your skills as a speaker and the “golden rules” to help you take your presentations from good to great.   This course is designed for anyone who would like to improve their ability to design and deliver an impactful presentation. Whether you have been presenting regularly or occasionally, this course provides skills to do so even more successfully.
Learning Objectives:
  • To learn how to get to know what the audience want to hear and how to shape the presentation accordingly.
  • To be able to maintain confidence and handle nerves.
  • To be able to prepare, practice and achieve successful presentations which fulfil their objectives.
  • To understand how to keep audience attention throughout the presentation.
  • To understand the golden rules and inappropriate techniques of advanced presentation skills.
  • To learn the popular techniques of storytelling and pitching.
  • How to use Augmented Reality to Enhance Presentations.

IT Security is a complex and multidimensional challenge. The landscape of threats is constantly changing and evolving. Modern societies are highly dependent on the IT infrastructure, particularly in the context of smart cities. The building blocks of smart cities are IoT devices, which in essence are always connected mini computers. Despite the new novel services that are made available, most of these systems are susceptible to all kinds of cyberattacks. This module focuses on providing learners an overview of IT Security and highlights its need in information and communication systems with emphasis on IoT devices and smart cities. The purpose of the module is to provide knowledge of the security risks of information systems as well as the available mechanisms and technologies to protect them. The aim is to train learners in identifying vulnerabilities, developing security policies and implementing protection measures.
Learning Objectives:
  • Acknowledge the fundamental concepts in IT security.
  • Identify software and network vulnerabilities and threats. Perform risk assessment in an Information System and propose a methodology for mitigation of possible attacks.
  • Evaluate the usability of a security solution.
  • Assess the main cryptographic algorithms and combine them into a secure development environment.
  • Develop a security policy for IoT Ecosystems.

In this module, learners will understand what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is and understand its applications and use cases and how they transformed our lives. AI concepts including machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks as well as use cases and applications of AI will be explored. Learners will also deal with concerns surrounding AI such as ethics, bias, jobs and the impacts on society. This module does not require any programming or computer science expertise and is designed to introduce the basics of AI to anyone whether you have a technical background or not.
Learning Objectives:
  • To become familiar with the fundamentals of AI principles.
  • To understand the basic rules between AI and problem solving.
  • To understand the contribution of AI in real-life conditions.
  • To understand the most popular machine learning models.
  • To explore the potential, limitations, and implications of AI systems.

This course module introduces the trainees to ITIL best practices for IT Service Management.
Learning Objectives:
  • Explaining what ITIL is.
  • Defining roles in IT Service Management.
  • Illustrating ITIL Service Lifecycles.
  • Illustrating ITIL best practices.

This module explores the topic of sustainability applied to smart cities. Sustainability is defined as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Learning Objectives:
  • Understanding of equality and diversity, inclusivity and social cohesion.
  • Developing trust and sense of community.
  • Developing responsible citizens.
  • Understanding and practicing group decision making.
  • Ability to see the “bigger picture”.
  • Commitment in developing sustainable picture.
  • Knowledge of ecological and circular economy approaches.

Standardization is the process of “technological convergence”, as well as of innovation clarification. It is defined as “the consistent use of methodologies, procedures, tools, and techniques specified above the level of individual projects”. Smart city (SC) is an emerging topic, which has been evolved since the early 1990s. Almost all standardization bodies develop standards for SC. The aim of this module is twofold: it will describe the SC standardization process together with specifications and guidelines for the SC development that are introduced at international, supranational and national levels; since standardization introduces norms for the SC development, existing rules/legislation will be demonstrated that come up from European and International organizations.
Learning Objectives:
  • To understand key principles in smart city (SC) standardization.
  • To be familiar with existing SC standards, specifications and techniques and with European and International norms.
  • To compare competitive SC standards.
  • To be able to use standards for SC development and to align to SC legal rules.

This module explores the topic of resilience by providing the tools to make smart cities ready to adapt to crises and changes. Planning the resilience of a city also allows to seize the opportunities that can arise from negative events.
Learning Objectives:
  • Identify the indicators capable to define the degree of resilience of a city.
  • Develop a monitoring plan for these indicators.
  • Define a plan to improve the resilience of a city.

The module Urban Management provides an overview of the key knowledge domains and competences required for effectively managing smart cities characterized by rapid urbanization triggering the need to cope with increased complexity. In addition, the implications of metropolisation for the city- regions relationship and recommendations for a balanced perspective in this context are given.  This course presents developments, frameworks, and tools for understanding and managing the complex eco-system of a smart city.
Learning Objectives:
  • Reflect on and understand the development of diverse perspectives of urban management.
  • Identify the necessity for integrating multidisciplinary concepts and competences to coordinate and lead diverse Smart City eco-system stakeholders.
  • Understand and use the role of the data landscape and technology as driving forces for urban management.
  • Understand the effects of urbanization on the regions and develop competences to create a mutually supportive co-existence.

This module facilitates attendants to learn how to enhance the collaboration and communication with citizens in the smart cities. It presents strategies and techniques for engaging citizens, how to develop and implement communication strategies with them, and how to set up and run information systems that record citizens’ behavior and satisfaction. Last, it introduces the attendant to the concepts of Communities of Practice and Communities of Interest
Learning Objectives:
  • Define citizen engagement and describe main strategies and techniques to engage citizens of smart cities.
  • Develop and implement a communication strategy with smart cities citizens.
  • Outline the principles of Organizational Citizenship Behavior and identify factors affecting smart cities citizens’ behaviorand saisfaction.
  • Initiate and run communities of practice.

Digital Twin (DT) technologies are considered as key technologies that allow us to construct a virtual duplicate of our actual system and as such to provide a platform to review activities, to test interactions and the results of alternative decisions within the real system. Usually, DT technologies are used, whenever a system is complex, dynamic, and its operation is considered as critical. Smart cities can be easily characterised as a complex system, where changes occur on daily basis and its operation is considered critical for the citizens. Further, the performance of smart cities is an important factor for citizens and businesses and it relies, in many cases, on the interaction of different subsystems. Smart cities as a complex system, as a collection of interacting systems, transportation systems, health care systems, education systems, administration systems, etc., create challenges that must be resolved at a test environment, because of its stochastic nature. Therefore, the implementation of DT technologies is necessary and important, in the context of a smart city, since it will be used as a management tool for improving smart city efficiency and operation, but as well for minimising the systems’ risk and improving policymaking and decision-making in general.
Learning Objectives:
  • To understand the key principles and concepts of digital twin technologies.
  • To understand digital twin model development process.
  • To understand the connection between digital twin’s models and Internet of Things.
  • To be aware of how DT can be used for developing dynamic digital twin’s model for smart cities.

The objective of this module is to deliver comprehensive knowledge that covers theoretical aspects, modern methods and good practices in the subject of Procurement, using established models (e.g. ITIL) and guidelines issued by the EU and international organizations. Trends like Green/Sustainable Procurement and topics like ICT procurement and Public Private Partnerships are also discussed.
Learning Objectives:
  • Differences between the terms “purchasing” and “procurement”.
  • The procurement principles and cycle.
  • Decision making between “make, lease or buy” options.
  • The procurement procedures available to select.
  • Defining the requirements of a contract.
  • Setting evaluation criteria for potential tenderers.
  • Contract awarding methods available.
  • The basic structure of a contract.
  • Establishing contract management activities.
  • Contract performance evaluation.
  • Green and ICT procurement issues.
  • Good practices in ICT procurement.
  • Public Private Partnerships.

Instructors

Prof. Dr. Dolores Sanchez Bengoa

Vice-president for International Relations & Professor for International Business.
A graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University (United Kingdom), Prof. Dr. Bengoa is now Vice-president at the University of Applied Management Studies, Germany. She has extensive intercultural experience and has been a board member of the European Association for Professional Education since 2021. Her teaching emphasizes the practical application of theory in intercultural management and communication.

Prof. Dr. Hans Ruediger Kaufmann

Professor of International Sales Management, Specialized in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
With decades of experience spanning across continents, Professor Kaufmann brings to the table a rich blend of academic and professional expertise. He has held multiple leadership positions, contributed significantly to various research areas like International Consumer Behavior and SME Internationalization, and has been recognized for his work, notably the 2017 Emerald Literati Network Award.  

Prof. Dr. Christoph Sandbrink

Professor of Digital Business & Chief Digital Officer Advisor.
Prof. Dr. Sandbrink, a distinguished graduate from the University of Jena (Germany) and Hull (United Kingdom), is a Professor of Digital Business at the University of Applied Management, Mannheim, and an Executive Management Consultant at SAP SE. His career spans leadership roles at SAP and Telefónica O2, focusing on digital innovation fields like AI, Machine Learning, and Big Data.

Certificate

Obtain A Recognized Certificate

Issued by The University of Applied management studies, provided by German Sustainability Academy, recognized by Erasmus+, and transferable everywhere in the European Union.

Become A Partner
Become A Partner

Diploma by:

The University of Applied Management Studies

Laptop/PC and internet

connection required

Languages:

English, Arabic, and German

80% online

20% in-person

Lectures, quizzes,

and assignments, and student support

Prerequisites:

Bachelor’s Degree

Volume discount available

6 months

6 hours/week

Start date:

On-demand

Live

Customizable and flexible

Become A Partner

FAQ

Yes, our diploma programs are recognized by the European Union and offer 15 ECTS credits. We also partner with the University of Applied Management Studies in Germany to provide an accredited diploma upon completion of the program.

The Smart Cities Diploma program is designed to be completed within 6 months. The program requires a time commitment of approximately 6 hours per week, which includes attending lectures, completing assignments, and taking quizzes. However, we understand that each organization has different needs and schedules, so the program is flexible and can be customized to meet your specific requirements. On average, students need approximately 231 hours to complete the entire diploma.

A bachelor’s degree is required to take this program.

Our diploma programs offer a wide range of benefits, including building a reliable academic and practical background in smart cities, contributing to the Saudi Vision 2030, and providing valuable learning opportunities for employees. The programs are also designed to fit within your current schedule.

Interested organizations can apply online via Become A Partner page or contact us directly for more information. Our team will guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. If you’re a student, you could join the waitlist. We will let you know when you could apply.  

The cost of our Smart Cities Diplomas varies depending on the number of programs you need. To get a personalized quote, please contact us through our website.

Please contact us directly or send an email to info@gsa-sa.com. Our team will be happy to assist you with any inquiries you may have.

Related Programs

Smart City Manager (Diploma)

The Smart City Manager Diploma program is specifically designed to equip graduate professionals with the necessary skills to excel in leadership roles within the smart city industry.

Learn More

Smart City IT Officer (Diploma)

The Smart City IT Officer diploma program prepares students for IT careers in the growing field of smart city technology.

Learn More

Smart City IT Manager (Diploma)

The Smart City IT Manager Diploma program will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage the IT department of a city administration.

Learn More
All Rights Reserved © 2024 German Sustainability Academy. |