Purposeful travel: a model for initiating international planning collaboration

Abstract

Pronounced international disparities in income, accessible resources and training are widespread. This compounds meeting the sustainability agenda and targets set by COP-21 (Conference Of Parties). The American Planning Association’s Development Plan, 2014-2015, further describes the problem as: “Globally, communities are challenged by the lack of planning capacity. We seek national and international partnerships to advance the planning movement and exchange the best ideas in order to build communities of lasting value and to advance the principles of sustainable urbanization . . . We must inspire our members . . .” Although many wish to, there are very limited opportunities for planning professionals and students to work together and gain international planning project experience. Thus, overcoming existing constraints and testing new innovations to further cooperative planning across borders are both problems and opportunities addressed in this paper.