Conference report: Planning’s future – futures planning: planning in an era of global uncertainty and transformation: The 3rd World Planning Schools Congress, Perth, Western Australia, 4–8 July 2011

Abstract

This conference report presents an overview of the 3rd World Planning Schools Congress (WPSC), held in Perth, Western Australia, from 4 to 8 July 2011. Organised by the Global Planning Education Association Network (GPEAN) in collaboration with the Australian and New Zealand Association of Planning Schools (ANZAPS), the congress aimed to bring together planning scholars from across global regions to address contemporary challenges in planning theory and practice.

The report reflects on the thematic focus of the congress—planning in an era of global uncertainty and transformation—highlighting keynote contributions on futures-oriented planning, urbanisation in the Global South, and the need to adapt planning approaches to informal and rapidly changing urban contexts. It also provides insights into the scale and diversity of the event, which attracted over 900 submissions and approximately 450 accepted papers across 20 thematic tracks.

Special attention is given to emerging research areas such as climate change, risk, and sustainability, as well as to the geographical distribution of participants and the institutional dynamics influencing attendance. The report concludes with reflections on the importance of international collaboration and coordination among planning school associations to strengthen future global congresses.