Building institutional capacity in academic associations: Reframing treasury as a strategic function in AESOP (Association of European School of Planning)

Abstract

This article examines the transformation of the treasury function within AESOP (Association of European Schools of Planning) during the 2021–2025 mandate. Drawing on internal reports, audit documents, governance materials and the legacy of the AEKOM digital transition project, the paper argues that treasury reform should be understood as part of a broader process of institutional capacity building. The analysis highlights how financial reorganisation intersects with infrastructural, normative and constitutional development, including the implementation of open-source digital infrastructures, the adoption of the AESOP Core Curriculum (2024), and the update of the AESOP Charter (2023). The article concludes that professionalising technical financial management can strengthen institutional autonomy, provided that strategic decision-making remains anchored in AESOP’s mission, governance structures, digital infrastructures and collective leadership.