Planning Urban Transformations and Transitions

Welcome to Planning Urban Transformations and Transitions

Description: Urban planning is, by definition, concerned with long-term, transformative change. Yet, the conceptualisation of the factors and dynamics that lead to such change remains limited in much planning practice. Transition studies can contribute to understanding these dynamics, and in recent years have increasingly turned to the urban as both an object of study and an arena for intervention. However, transition scholarship often lacks an adequate conceptualisation of the urban and the role of collective action – a long-standing focus of spatial planning traditions. 

This course explores the potential of an encounter between transition studies, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and spatial planning. STS brings a critical understanding of how technologies, infrastructures, and socio-material arrangements shape – and are shaped by – urban life. Combined with planning studies, it offers a powerful lens for examining how political, institutional, and spatial dimensions interact in processes of urban transformation. The course addresses both structural conditions and tactical, everyday practices, while engaging participants with three contemporary agendas: Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), the 15-Minute City, and Circular Urban Economies. 

Teaching combines keynote lectures, parallel thematic tracks, co-creative workshops, and structured feedback sessions. Evaluation is based on active participation and either an abstract submission (for 3 ECTS) or a full paper (for 5 ECTS).

Prerequisites: The course is open to PhD students working on topics related to urban transformations, transition studies, sustainability, and planning. To ensure alignment with the course objectives and facilitate peer exchange, participants are asked to submit material in advance:
For 3 ECTS: submission of a short abstract (approx. 300 words) outlining the PhD research topic, including research questions, theoretical framing, and empirical focus. For 5 ECTS: submission of a full paper (4,000–8,000 words) based on the PhD research. Papers should address conceptual or methodological aspects of the dissertation work and will receive feedback from faculty and peers during the course. 

All participants will be expected to give a short presentation of their research during the course and to actively engage in discussions, workshops, and group work.

Learning objectives: By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Develop theoretical and practical perspectives on urban and spatial transformations and transitions, with relevance for research on urban form, governance, and spatial policy.
• Critically assess the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in how planning and transition research conceptualize and address urban transformations.
• Apply key conceptual frameworks to analyze institutional, governance, and design strategies for long-term transformative change.
• Reflect on and strengthen their own PhD projects in light of current theoretical debates, methodological approaches, and empirical cases.

Organizer: Enza Lissandrello enza@plan.aau.dk

Lecturers: PLUS research group staff (Planning for Urban Sustainability)

ECTS: 3.0

Date: 7., 8. & 9. October 2026

Place: Aalborg University

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 30

Open for enrolment: 7. June 2026 

Deadline for enrolment: 16. September 2026

Important information concerning PhD courses: There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course.

You may find more information in our FAQ: https://phd.moodle.aau.dk/local/page/faq 

For inquiries not described in the FAQ, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk. When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.