AESOP newsletter - May 2026

AESOP is pleased to announce that the 2026 membership renewal campaign will be launched in the coming days.

We warmly invite all our member institutions to prepare for the renewal process and to continue being part of a vibrant and inspiring community dedicated to advancing planning education, research and practice across Europe and beyond.

Why remain part of AESOP?

Being an AESOP member means joining a strong international network of planning schools and professionals…

The right to elect new National Representatives rests with the AESOP Full Members in each country. If you are interested in joining the CoRep, please contact your current National Representative directly.

Please find below the information regarding the…

AESOP is pleased to invite its member schools to apply to host the 21st AESOP Heads of Schools Meeting, which will take place in Spring 2027.

Deadline for applications: 19 June 2026

Applications to be sent to the AESOP General Secretariat (secretariat@aesop-planning.eu) 

Application dossiers should include:

(a) Information about the hosting institution:

• Educational and research profile
• Organisational capacity to host the event
• Potential collaboration with local stakeholders…

Urban Complex Futures: Critical Leverage Points

An exciting workshop/conference ahead on 8-9 January 2027 in Nicosia/Cyprus on 'Complexity Unpacked: Analytical Tools & Practical Insights for Uncertain Futures'. Solon and team are busy getting everything on the ground for us - do not forget to submit your contribution latest by 15 June 2026. See full Call for Papers: https://aesop-planning.eu/tg-news/planning-and-complexity/complexity-unpacked-nicosia-cyprus-2027

We have been…

AESOP Thematic Group Meeting on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Planning
This Thematic Group New Technologies & Planning meeting explores the role of Artificial Intelligence in planning across research, education, and professional practice. 

The meeting aims at fostering dialogue and experience sharing between scholars and educators within the AESOP community, reflecting on methodological innovation, epistemological implications, and operational applications of AI in spatial…

Our first article introducing the Rural Planning TG appeared in disP - The Planning Review!

You can read the full article here.

It also features a photo from our first in-person meeting at the AESOP 2025 conference in Istanbul!

We are pleased to announce a Call for Papers for the Practice Section of Urban Research & Practice. We warmly welcome submissions from practitioners, policymakers, community actors, activists, and researchers.

About the call:

We are seeking contributions that document and analyse innovative projects, plans, programmes, and place-based initiatives carried out within cities. Articles should reflect on how these practical interventions advance sustainable urban development, offer…

DEADLINE - 21st MAY 2026!

URBAN STUDIES ⦁ CALL FOR A NEW GENERATION 2026/2027

URBAN STUDIES, a postgraduate program at the University of Rijeka, has announced an open call for its third generation of participants!

URBAN STUDIES are postgraduate study program of spatial and strategic design of complex urban systems, phenomena and transformations enrolled in the artistic interdisciplinary field of Science and Art. Intended for everybody whose research or practice influences the built and programmed…

This PhD summer school focuses on climate change adaptation and flood recovery, with a particular emphasis on strengthening long-term resilience in both urban and rural areas. Floods are among the most disruptive climate-related hazards in Europe, and recent events have shown that flood recovery involves not only technical reconstruction but also broader questions of planning, governance, and long-term resilience.

The summer school uses flood-affected regions as learning…

LSE Cities is recruiting two Resident Senior Policy Fellows as part of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative, a pioneering program to help mayors and their teams across the continent strengthen leadership skills, drive public sector innovation, and tackle complex urban challenges to deliver tangible results for residents in new ways.

Fellows will join LSE Cities for up to one year, engaging in critical knowledge exchange by contributing to existing research…

Calling all registered (corporate) Members of the Irish Planning Institute and/or Chartered Members of the Royal Town Planning Institute (*or international equivalent). We are delighted to announce that the Department of Planning at University College Cork is recruiting two new staff (duration - 2 year posts) for our teaching team. Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 23rd June 2026 and must be corporate/charatered members of…

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – The University in the Helmholtz Association

In close partnership with society, KIT develops solutions for urgent challenges – from climate change, energy transition and sustainable use of natural resources to artificial intelligence, sovereignty and an aging population. As The University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT unites scientific excellence from insight to application-driven research under one roof – and is thus in a unique…