International students from the Ca’ Foscari School of Management visit the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority

The North Adriatic Sea Port Authority recently hosted a group of students from the Ca’ Foscari School of Management at its headquarters as part of a study session focusing on urban development, spatial planning and the dynamics of transformation within port systems. The initiative forms part of the course ‘Creativity and Innovation in Urban Development’, which is part of the Master’s degree programme ‘Innovation and Management for Culture and Creativity’, run by the Venice School of Management at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The course involves students from various international backgrounds – including France, Japan, China and Italy – engaged in analysing the key factors driving urban innovation processes and the governance models guiding the planning and management of contemporary urban development. During the meeting, the topics of the port–city relationship and the role of port planning in defining the future layout of the area were discussed. From this perspective, the port is not merely a logistics infrastructure and a hub in the international transport network, but also a key element in the spatial and functional organisation of the area, capable of having a significant impact on urban and economic development dynamics. Particular attention was paid to port and strategic planning tools, through which the processes of development, transformation and integration between port functions and the urban context are guided. In this context, port waterfronts represent prime areas for urban regeneration and redevelopment, where new forms of integration between port activities, urban functions and public spaces are being explored. Site visits and discussions with institutions and stakeholders form a significant part of the students’ educational programme, as they are tasked with developing design proposals focused on urban innovation and the socio-economic transformation of local areas. This engagement helps to build an integrated vision of development, in which the port emerges as a strategic infrastructure and a driver of innovation and development for the territory.