In the course, which is organized as a planning project, students will have the opportunity to practice the range of skills acquired during earlier courses. The project task will concern spatial and economic development strategies for sustainable regional structures. The project encompasses the whole planning process. It addresses problem-solving techniques as well as decision-making processes. A large emphasis is put on the ability to communicate intermediate and final results. Students will have the possibility to pursue a particular line of interest of their choice within the larger topic of the project, thus giving room for specialization. The project will be carried out in cooperation with the relevant public and private bodies of the region studied, and the results of the student work will be communicated to private and public actors in the project region.There will be course elements in the project aiming at providing insights into how the increasing European integration will reshape the economic and social conditions in metropolitan regions as well as in smaller settlements and rural areas.
The starting point will be an analysis of the topic chosen by the students or of the geographical area within the region selected from the point of view of history, present conditions and alternative futures. The analysis will contain social, economic and environmental aspects and planning methods taught in earlier courses in the program. The second phase of the project work is synthesizing. Here the task is to design an action program for the issue or area selected. In particular, problem solutions are to be put together which promote integrated wholes. The program will make reference to the connections between different actors and different planning levels. The third phase of the project is devoted to designing strategies for implementation. Here it is necessary to devote attention to the presentation of plan proposals or strategies.