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
New article by Dorcas Nthoki Nyamai
The article deals with walking in Nairobi in the context of social justice

F02 Project "My Way or the Highway" in Namibia
The student research project went on an excursion to Namibia

CfP (online symposium): "Flow/ Overflow/ Shortage: on measuring and managing extreme urban conditions"
Moritz Kasper co-organizes an online symposium on 24. & 25. May 2023

New article by Raffael Beier published
The article explores why low-income people leave state housing in South Africa

Joint article by Moritz Kasper and Sophie Schramm
The article published in the journal urban Studies deals with water and electricity storage as critical infrastructure in Nairobi

Call for paper: Infra-spacing African Urban Futures beyond “Concrete” visions
Sophie Schramm and Genet Alem chair panel at ECAS2023 conference

List of Thesis Topic Proposals updated
You don't have a topic for your Bachelor's or Master's thesis yet?
Then let yourself be inspired by our list of Thesis Topic Proposals!

Joint article by Sophie Schramm and Francis Dakyaga
The article published in the journal Urban Geography deals with the everyday practices and spatiality of water access in Daressalaam

New article 'The alley as an expression of urban form' by Genet Alem published
The article is published in the Journal of Urban Affairs and focuses on understanding factors that contribute to the contingency of African cities

new book 'Planning Cities in Africa- Current Issues and Future Prospects of Urban Governance and Planning' published by Springer
'Planning Cities in Africa' edited by Genet Alem Gebregiorgis, among others, deals with future perspectives in planning on the African continent
![[Translate to English:] [Translate to English:]](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/e/6/csm_Grafik_Studienprogramme_afrikanischer_Hochschulen_Anand_und_Dutta_Indian_Institute_for_Human_Settlements_21de965128.jpg)
Raffael Beier admitted into TU Dortmund’s Young Academy
Dr. Raffael Beier receives research funding and is accepted into the Young Academy of TU Dortmund University

Joint article by Dorcas Nyamai and Sophie Schramm
In the Journal of Urban Affairs, both researchers discuss mobility and spatial justice in Nairobi

Raffael Beier gives a speech at the congress of the African Union of Architects in Rabat
On 4 and 5 July 2022, he presented his work on peripheral urbanisation in Casablanca

New chapter by Sophie Schramm on changing sanitation in Hanoi
In the technical report "Overcoming Institutional and Organisational Barriers", Sophie Schramm discusses the changing sanitation in Hanoi

New essay on "ordinary neighbourhoods"
In Planning Theory, Raffael Beier takes a critical look at the term 'slum'

Lecture by Prof. Schramm in Cologne
On June 23, 2022, Prof. Schramm will give a lecture on informal settlements in Nairobi

IPS doctoral project honored
TU Dortmund's "Global Gallery" Award goes to Dorcas Nyamai

New article about digitalisation of energy access in Nairobi
Prof. Sophie Schramm, Prof. Monstadt, and Dr. Guma discuss the conflicting rationalities in the deployment of digital prepaid electricity systems in…

International Planning Sessions 2022
Five lectures by international experst - for students, doctoral researchers, and everyone interested

Call for Papers: Special Issue on Comparative Urban Research
Deadline for abstracts for the special issues (Urban Planning journal) is 15 December 2022.

New edited volume published by Routledge
Edited by Dr. Raffael Beier and others, the volume is titled "Urban Resettlements in the Global South."

Studieninfotage 2022 (08.04. & 03.06.2022)
During the "Studieninfotage," the faculty offers in-depth details on its bachelor's degree program in spatial planning (German only).

INTERPART Reader published
The open access reader "Beteiligung interkulturell gestalten" was published by jovis Verlag
