The Next Generation of Planning: A Year of Milestones f rom AESOP Young Academics

The AESOP Young Academics (YA) Network is an integral branch of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), the leading academic association representing European planning schools. Established in 2003, the YA Network was created to foster the active participation of early-career scholars within the planning discipline and to strengthen their engagement with the broader AESOP community. Open to PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, and academics at the beginning of their academic careers, the YA Network provides an open, inclusive platform for scholarly exchange. At the heart of the network lies the Co-ordination Team (CT ), a group of six elected members who work collectively to initiate, coordinate, and promote YA-related activities throughout their two-year term of service. These activities include the annual YA Conference, the AESOP PhD Work-shop, and active involvement in the AESOP Annual Congress. It played a proactive role in contributing to the success of major AESOP events, including the 36th AESOP Annual Congress in Paris, which brought together over 1200 participants from 55 countries, and the AESOP PhD Workshop in Grenoble, which welcomed 28 doctoral students from around the world. ... mehrThis report offers a comprehensive overview of the YA Network’s activities during the 2024–2025 term, highlighting the continued growth and contribution of young academics to the AESOP community and to the future generation of planning.