PLANH’s teaching philosophy is guided by the goal of equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed for their future professional and personal paths as planners and spatial practitioners. To this end, our teaching formats are closely connected to practice. We collaborate with external partners such as representatives from the Ville de Lausanne (planning department) and the Ville de Renens (urban development department).
PLANH offers courses at the University of Lausanne at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. Teaching is often complemented by practical exercises that enable students to apply theoretical concepts to real-world planning contexts. In addition, PLANH is actively involved in the supervision of Bachelor’s, Master’s, and seminar theses.
Teaching and Methodologies
Urban Ateliers
(Every autumn semester; part of the MA course “Planning and Housing”)
The Urban Atelier is inspired by the “studio” methodology used in architectural and engineering education. Unlike these technically oriented disciplines, PLANH adapts the studio approach from a social science perspective. Students learn how to produce outputs such as photo series or podcasts and present their findings in a World Café-style final exhibition.
Bachelor’s Course: Aménagement du territoire en Suisse
This course introduces the fundamentals of spatial planning and development in Switzerland. Students learn about contemporary challenges and obstacles in Swiss spatial development, the key instruments and strategies of Swiss spatial planning, and how to apply these approaches in practice.
- Crédits: 6 ECTS
- Format: Lecture + exercises
- Number of students: 100–120
- Language: French, with guest lectures in English
- In collaboration with: Région de Morges
Master’s Course: Planning and Housing
This course deepens students’ knowledge in spatial planning and housing research. It critically examines ongoing spatial development processes from a socio-environmental sustainability perspective in Swiss cities and beyond. Students complement their conceptual learning with practical exercises, including the Urban Atelier (see above) in the cities of Lausanne and Renens.
- Crédits: 5 ECTS
- Format: Lecture + exercises
- Number of students: 40–60
- Language: English, with guest lectures in French
- In collaboration with: Ville de Lausanne; Ville de Renens
Thesis Supervisions
Each semester (starting in January and August), students can request supervision from PLANH team members for their Bachelor’s or Master’s theses. Guidelines for writing and conducting theses are provided both by the Institute of Geography and Sustainability (IGD) and by PLANH with supplementary details:
Collective Course: Governance, Planification et Aménagement du territoire
This course explores governance and planning from multiple disciplinary perspectives, advancing students’ conceptual understanding of decision-making processes in spatial and land use development.
- Crédits: 5 ECTS
- Format: Lecture
- Language: French and English
- Instructors: Prof. René Veron, Prof. Martin Müller, Prof. Selin Yilmaz, Prof. Gabriela Debrunner
- Number of students: 50-70