SITRAP Annual Conference 2026: Spatial Professions and Higher Education – International Trends

Spatial Professions and Higher Education – International Trends

The annual SITRAP conference gathers this year a selection of teachers from international higher education institutions in order to display pedagogical trends and share experiences. We will delve into the causes behind these trends, the pedagogical frameworks that support them, and the educational qualities that may be drawn from them. We will hear about experiences from contexts such as France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Finland, and Norway, as well as the highly particular and extreme situation of Gaza in Palestine. We will also hear educational reflections from a range of professions, from architecture, landscape architecture, and spatial planning to agronomy and political sciences. The purpose is to exchange, explore, discuss, and learn, and to develop critical perspectives, ideas and strategies for higher education that may enable our professions to deal with challenges that characterise our time and our future. 

Read more

Preliminary agenda (subject to updates):

08:30 Coffee and Networking

Welcome and introduction 

Welcome: Prof. Elin Kubberød (Pro-rector education NMBU) and Prof. Elin Børrud (centre leader SITRAP)

Introduction. Marius Grønning & Anja Standal, SITRAP

Keynote: 

The multiple profiles of spatial planning education – models, origines and futures – Hendrik van der Kamp, European Council of Spatial Planners – Conseil Européen des Urbanistes

Discussion: perspectives on Norwegian planning practice by  Sverre Nagell Bjordal & Pavel Grabalov, SITRAP

Part I. Trends

Studio teaching – two models

• Space, teamwork, and transdisciplinarity as introduction to architecture. Alice (Atelier de la conception de l'espace), EPFL Lausanne
• A decentred view – the landscape as perspective across disciplines. Marta Mendonca, achitect, and Gilles Brusset, landscape architect, École Spéciale d'Architecture (Paris)

Pause

Part II. Approaches

Panel: Innovative approaches and experiences

• Can we teach an interprofessional language? Ettore Donadoni, Politecnico di Milano
• Ecology as a spatial method: pedagogical redirection at an Institute of Political Studies. Nicolas Escach, Sciences Po Rennes
• Urban form and spatial litteracy,. Hossam Hewidy, Aalto University
• Place and practice community – landscape as framework for knowledge production. Marianne Darbi, Hochschule Geisenheim

Discussion: Spatial professions – past and future pedagogies. Denis Bocquet (framing and moderator), board member of Espaces et Sociétés

Part III. Academia and the spatial professions

Territory, expertise, and self-determination

• Why the plans for Gaza has nothing to do with recovery. Akram El-Ijla, University of Palestine.
• What the world can learn from academia in Gaza – Ahmed Schaban, Al-Azhar University – Gaza
• The spatial professions and recovery from crisis. Marius Grønning & Steffen Wellinger, AirrPal.

Wrapping up: prospects, criticisms, and strategies for higher education. Elin Børrud, centre leader SITRAP

13:15 Lunch (for registered participants)
 

How to Get to NMBU

By Train and Bus

• Vy regional trains run from Oslo Airport Gardermoen to Oslo Central Station (Oslo S) every 30 minutes. The Airport Express Train (Flytoget) runs from Oslo Airport to Oslo S every 10 minutes.
• From Oslo S, take regional train R21 toward Moss to Ås Station.
  From Ås Station, NMBU is within walking distance (1.6 km), or you can take bus 510 toward Drøbak from Ås videregående skole to the stop“Universitetet i Ås.”
• Alternatively, from Oslo S take train RE20 (Halden) or R22 (Rakkestad) to Ski Station, then bus 510 toward Drøbak to“Universitetet i Ås.”

Attend In Person or Online

The conference is free of charge, and it is also possible to participate digitally.

The livestream will begin when the event starts. When registering, you may choose whether to attend in person or online.