IPS (International Planning Studies), TU Dortmund - IPS - TU Dortmund

Welcome to the IPS research group!

Find out more about our teaching and research dealing with urban change and planning across the globe!

At the International Planning Studies (IPS) research group, we emphasise diverse perspectives on urbanization and spatial planning across the world. IPS focuses on infrastructure, mobility, housing, and governance.

Headed by Prof. Dr. Sophie Schramm, IPS is also responsible for the international Master's degree program SPRING.

News and events

Workshop in Dakar on the topic "Ordinary Infrastructures – African Articulations of Urban Infrastructures beyond the Other"

An interdisciplinary roundtable workshop entitled "Ordinary Infrastructures" addresses urban infrastructures in African cities.

Roadside stalls selling plastic jerry cans in the Kariokor area in Nairobi

Sophie Schramm gives a lecture for the SchnupperUni on the topic "Urban Water Landscapes of Africa: Diverse Infrastructures, Technologies and Practises Beyond Planning"

As part of the SchnupperUni, Sophie Schramm will give a lecture on the topic of "urban water landscapes of Africa" on 21.08.2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:0

The picture shows a woman leaking water from a faucet into a container outside.

Doctorate at IPS research group

The Research group of International Planning Studies (IPS) of the Department of Spatial Planning at TU Dortmund University is seeking to fill a…

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Sophie Schramm and Deljana Iossifova give a lecture on urban infrastructure - as part of the seminar for urban research

Sophie Schramm and Deljana Iossifova share findings from their empirical research on urban infrastructure.

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Past F-project "Planning and Dirt", published an article in the current issue of the trade journal RaumPlanung

The article deals critically with implicit assumptions of planning.

The picture shows a charette procedure, people sitting in front of a partition wall

New article on coping strategies published

Girma Mulu Alemu, Sophie Schramm, and Wilbard Jackson Kombe have published an article on the topic of smallholder farmers' coping strategies.

Lecture by Sophie Schramm on water infrastructure in Nairobi

Under the title "Heterogeneous and ordinary - Nairobi's water infrastructures between everyday life and crisis", Prof. Dr. Sophie Schramm on 21. May…

The picture shows a woman leaking water from a faucet into a container outside.

ICOLMA Project Website is online

The website for our ICOLMA research project is now online.

New article on infrastructure segments

New article by D. Nthoki Nyamai and Sophie Schramm discusses the evolution of infrastructure segments in Nairobi.

Here you can find archived news and events.