Tuna Tasan-Kok
UGoveRN Chair
About UGoveRN
Bringing different perspectives on governance together.
UGoveRN is an international network of researchers and practitioners working across disciplines to better understand the complex relationships that shape urban and regional governance.
We create a space where different ways of thinking about governance can meet — connecting academic knowledge with the realities of policy, planning and practice.
Our Mission
Better governance starts with better understanding.
Cities and regions are shaped by increasingly complex relationships between governments, markets, communities, institutions and the built environment.
Founded in 2019 by Professor Tuna Tasan-Kok, UGoveRN was created to bring different disciplinary perspectives on governance into conversation with one another.
We connect urban planning, public administration, law, real estate and related fields to investigate how governance operates in practice — and how research can contribute to more informed approaches to urban and regional change.
01
Interdisciplinary
We bring different fields into conversation because governance cannot be understood from a single disciplinary perspective.
02
International
Our network connects researchers and practitioners across countries and contexts, creating opportunities to learn from different governance landscapes.
03
Connected to Practice
We create dialogue between research and practice, recognising that valuable knowledge is produced both inside and outside academia.
Why UGoveRN?
“UGoveRN was created to bridge disciplinary perspectives on urban governance and build lasting relationships between researchers and practitioners.”
Prof. Tuna Tasan-Kok
Founder & Chair, UGoveRN
Who We Are
A network built around active collaboration.
UGoveRN brings together scholars, researchers and practitioners with a shared interest in understanding and shaping urban and regional governance.
Rather than functioning only as a professional network, UGoveRN is organised around participation. Members initiate activities, develop research ideas, exchange knowledge and create new collaborations across academic, policy and professional contexts.
UGoveRN Leadership
Guiding the network.
The management team develops UGoveRN's activities and objectives, supports member initiatives, initiates new projects and helps shape the overall direction of the network.
Sara Özoğul
Head of Research
Andre Legarza
Head of Academics
Across the Network
Supporting ideas, voices and emerging researchers.
Members take on specific roles that help UGoveRN share research, support early-career scholars and maintain an active exchange of ideas.
Blog Editor
Nufar Avni
Supporting the development of clear, engaging and high-quality contributions to the UGoveRN blog.
Blog Editor
Güldem Özatağan
Supporting the development of clear, engaging and high-quality contributions to the UGoveRN blog.
Early Career Coordinator
Anna Hug
Representing early-career members and supporting activities that create opportunities for learning, exchange and professional development.
An Active Network
Membership means contributing.
UGoveRN is designed as an active, membership-driven platform rather than a passive directory.
01
Bring ideas into the network
Members can initiate discussions, reading groups, workshops, blogs, webinars and other activities around their research interests.
02
Build collaborations
UGoveRN creates opportunities to connect around research projects, funding ideas and shared governance questions.
03
Connect research and practice
Members are encouraged to engage practitioners and communicate their work across academic, policy and professional settings.
Become Part of UGoveRN
Bring your perspective to the network.
UGoveRN welcomes researchers and practitioners who want to actively contribute to interdisciplinary conversations about urban and regional governance.