plaNext in transition: A decade of young academic publishing in planning (2015–2025) – Insights and futures

Abstract

This article reflects on the ten-year evolution of plaNext – Next Generation Planning, from its founding within the AESOP Young Academics Network to its emergence as a globally recognised, Scopus-indexed open-access journal. It examines the journal’s mission to support early-career researchers, promote inclusive and interdisciplinary planning scholarship, and challenge Eurocentric paradigms in spatial planning. The author traces plaNext’s development across its themed volumes, highlighting its commitment to open access, equity, mentorship, and intellectual diversity. The article also analyses key challenges—such as reviewer scarcity, workload sustainability, geographical diversity, and financial limitations—and explores opportunities linked to digital publishing, interdisciplinary partnerships, and global outreach. Looking ahead, the journal’s future agenda emphasises climate resilience, urban inequality, participatory technologies, and decolonial, justice-centred approaches to planning. As plaNext transitions to a new editorial board, the article positions the journal as a critical platform shaping the next generation of planning research and practice.