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
Guest research stay by Newsha Salari from Ramon Llull University
As part of an Erasmus Plus programme, she spent two months at IPS and took part in a variety of academic activities.
![Central minibus station, Johannesburg, South Africa The Central minibus station in Johannesburg with buildings in the background](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/d/2/csm_Johannesburg_2020_Central_Minibus_Station_Raffael_Beier_private_8e709e2dc7.jpg)
New article by D. Nthoki Nyamai and Sophie Schramm
The article deals with the effects of COVID-19-related infrastructure restrictions on marginalised groups.
![Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa Small agricultural field in the area of Khayelitsha in Cape Town](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/d/a/csm_Cape_Town_2017_Khayelitsha_Urban_Agriculture_Raffael_Beier_private_f0fa078de6.jpg)
SPRING colloquium postponed to 4th of July 2024
The presentation by Newsha Salari takes place on 4th of July at 1:30 pm, in GBI, room 434
![Informal settlement Kliptown, Johannesburg, South Africa Informal settlement with small houses in Soweto, a district of Johannesburg 2020](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/b/a/csm_Johannesburg_2020_Kliptown_Soweto_informal_settlement_Raffael_Beier_private_a434615537.jpg)
Raffael Beier gives lecture at the Institute of Sociology at the University of Tübingen
As part of the G-TURN lecture series, he will give a guest lecture on "The Missing People of State-subsidized Housing" on 27 June 2024
![Tulu Dimtu, Addis Ababa metropolitan area, Ethiopia (2023) Street with so-aclled 'Condominiums' in the suburb of Tulu Dimtu, part of the Addis Ababa metropolitan area in Ethiopia](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/6/e/csm_Addis_Ababa_2023_Condominiums_Tulu_Dimtu_Raffael_Beier_TUD_d4f2306aa9.jpg)
New commentary by Sophie Schramm
In the commentary, she takes a critical look at the term co-production
![Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Small residential buildings and a street in Soweto in Johannesburg](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/c/4/csm_Johannesburg_2020_Soweto_Housing_Infrastructure_Raffael_Beier_private_3f50e5d188.jpg)
Invitation to guest lecture by Andrea Pollio on July 2nd 2024
The assistant professor at Polytechnic of Turin gives a guest lecture on digital infrastructures in African cities
![Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya Junction next to a shopping mall in the Kilimani area in Nairobi](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/3/5/csm_Nairobi_2019_Yaya_Centre_Junction_Moritz_Kasper_private_cb7e6ad334.jpg)
New article by Raffael Beier
The article takes a critical look at the Moroccan ‘Villes Sans Bidonville’ programme
![A field with many plots of land for sale](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/e/c/csm_Bouknadel_2021_Raffael_Beier_private_a88bef5e91.jpg)
First African Transport Research Conference 2024
It was hosted by the University of Cape Town in collaboration with the Volvo Research and Educational Foundation (VREF) in early March in Cape Town.
![photo of the researcher Nthoki D. Nyamai](/storages/ips-raumplanung/_processed_/9/7/csm_Cape_Town_2024_Nthoki_D._Nyamai_Transport_Research_Conference_697fa36925.jpg)