Urban planning student pursues European studies as Bosch Fellow

Nick Oyler

This fall a Texas A&M [master of urban planning] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/academics/graduate/mup/) student Nick Oyler is traveling to Germany on a [Robert Bosch Foundation] (http://www.cdsintl.org/fellowshipsabroad/bosch.php) Fellowship to study how Europe’s political, economic and cultural environment impact planning and sustainability.

Beginning this September, Oyler will spend nine months in the foundation’s professional development program, a transatlantic initiative aimed at developing new generations of U.S. leaders with firsthand knowledge of Europe.

With placement assistance from the program, he anticipates working in Berlin at Germany’s [Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development] (http://www.bmvbs.de/SharedDocs/EN/Artikel/IR/federal-ministry-of-transport-building-and-urban-development-berlin-office.html) and in Bonn at [Local Governments for Sustainability] (http://www.iclei.org/) , a worldwide association of national, regional and local government organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development.

In addition to the fellowship’s work phases, Oyler will attend seminars in three European locations covering German, European and transatlantic issues.

“Nick’s training at the undergraduate and graduate level have prepared him to address complex, pressing issues that have environmental, economic and social consequences,” said Shannon Van Zandt, coordinator of the [Master of Urban Planning] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/academics/graduate/mup/) program. “The fellowship will be very appropriate training for Nick and other young professionals who can influence decision-making in both public and private sector institutions.”

At Texas A&M, said Van Zandt, he has been trained as a problem solver, critical thinker and well-rounded communicator with skills that emphasize consensus-building and the facilitation of visioning and decision-making.

A selection committee of U.S. and German residents prominent in areas including business administration, journalism, law and public policy selected Oyler and 19 other 2012-13 Bosch Foundation Fellows after interviews held last January in New York.

The interviewees were selected by a confidential committee from applicants’ personal statements and letters of recommendation.

Though applicants weren’t required to speak German, Oyler will receive four months of private German language tutoring in the U.S. and three months of intensive training in Berlin prior to the start of the program.

posted February 7, 2012