Global Launch of the Master in City Administration (MCA) Program

This 2-hour training session marks the global launch of the Master in City Administration (MCA), a first-of-its-kind postgraduate degree designed as the equivalent of an MBA for city leaders. At a time when cities generate over 85% of global GDP and are at the forefront of addressing complex urban challenges, the session introduces a new, globally coordinated and multidisciplinary approach to strengthening the professional development of urban leadership.

The session is structured in three parts:

1. MCA Launch

Time: 9:30-10:00 am

A high-level opening segment introducing the MCA as a new global benchmark in urban leadership education. Speakers will highlight the increasing complexity of governing cities and the growing demand for structured, multidisciplinary professional development. The session will position the MCA not only as an academic program, but as the foundation for a new professional career path in city leadership. It will also present the role of leading institutions, including King Saud University (KSU) and LUISS University, in launching the first MCA programs in Fall 2026.

2. Panel Session – “A New Era of Urban Leadership” 

Time: 10:00-10:45 am

A high-level moderated discussion featuring global leaders, mayors, and academic partners. The panel will explore the evolving role of city leaders in addressing housing, climate, infrastructure, and economic challenges, and why traditional training pathways are insufficient. It will draw on the MCA’s conceptual framing: the problem, demand, solution, proof, and promise of a new professional pathway for urban leadership.

Speakers: 

• UN Habitat Representative
• H.E. Fahd Al-Rasheed, 2020 Urban 20 Chair
• Mayor Nasiphi Moya, City of Tshwane
• Emilia Saiz, Secretary General, UCLG

Moderator: 

Mauricio Rodas (Former Mayor of Quito; Professor, University of Pennsylvania)

Time: 11:00-11:30 am

3. City Leadership Lab

Time: 10:45-11:30 am

An interactive, facilitated lab led by LUISS University and King Saud University (KSU). Participants will engage directly with the MCA curriculum, reflect on the competencies required for modern city leadership, and contribute insights on priority skills, governance challenges, and training needs. This participatory segment ensures the session moves beyond discussion into co-creation and applied learning.

The session combines thought leadership, institutional launch, and interactive capacity-building, offering participants both strategic insight and practical engagement.