Spatial Planning Across Europe
The course requires a Bachelor degree incl. 90 HECs in Human Geography or Urban and Regional Planning, or accepted to a master programme in Human Geography, Urban and Regional Planning or Globalization, Environment and Social Change, and English 6.
This course will not be available during the Spring Semester 2026.
A particular focus will be laid on transnational and cross-border cooperation within spatial planning. Regarding the latter, the idea is to carve out the similarities and differences between a number of European countries (e.g. Sweden compared to Finland, Germany and the Netherlands) related to e.g. the institutional organization of planning, its thematic scope and dominating normative concepts and instruments.
This analysis will help to critically revisit the notion of “planning families” and “planning cultures” in a transnational as well as national (and partly regional) perspective across Europe. One key question of the course is to what extent can we observe an Europeanisation of spatial planning across Europe and to what extent some of the prevailing differences between national planning families and cultures in Europe seem to be rather robust.
Teaching Format
Obligatory teaching includes lectures, seminars and exercises.
Detailed information, including grading criteria, is presented at the course introduction and via the collaboration and learning environment Athena.
Learning objectives
Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:
- discuss and compare urban and regional planning in selected European countries
- interpret and analyze planning systems and cultures in Europe and its applications
- analyze relevant planning policies at the EU level and its applications in a multi-level governance system
Assessment
Assessment takes place through a written exam and assignments.
Examiner
Several teachers assess and grade within the course.
Examiner:
Peter Schmitt
