PROGRESS REPORT - Global Planning Education Association Network

The first meeting of the Global Planning Education Association Network took place in Volos, Greece, July 2002, in conjunction with the annual AESOP Congress.  Delegates present were: Bruce Stiftel of Assn of Collegiate Schools of Planning (USA); Tom Harper of Assn of Canadian University Planning Programs; Basil Dimitriou of Assn of European Schools of Planning; Roberto Rodriquez of Latin American Assn of Schools of Urbanism and Planning; Angus Witherby of Australia and New Zealand Assn of Planning Schools; Carlos Vainer of National Assn of Urban and Regional Post-graduate and Research Programs (Brazil); Marcel Bazin of Assn for the Development of Planning Education and Research (France); WU Zhiqiang of Asian Planning Schools Assn., and Vanessa Watson of Interim Coordinating Committee for the Revitalization of Planning Education in Africa.

The follow actions were taken:

--The Network was established with eight member planning school associations and one observer organization.

--A GPEAN website intended as an international portal to planning school associations, was commissioned, to be housed at Tongji University, under direction of a Technology Sub-Committee, chaired by WU Zhiqiang of APSA-Tongji Univ. 

--The intent to create a global best papers annual was declared, to be pursued by a Publications Sub-committee, chaired by Vanessa Watson of ICCRPEA-Univ. Capetown.

--Email listserv communications and a series of regular meetings of planning school association officers to include journal editors, conference chairs, presidents, and curricular officials was set in motion.

--A Structure Sub-committee, chaired by Thomas Harper of ACUPP-Univ Calgary, was established to prepare recommended operating procedures for the network.

--A Finance Sub-committee, chaired by Bruce Stiftel of ACSP-Florida State Univ, was established to seek funding for GPEAN activities as well as support for planning school association development.

--Network leadership was selected as follows: Bruce Stiftel of ACSP (Chair), Basil Dimitriou of AESOP-Oxford Brooks Univ (UK)(Co-chair), Angus Witherby of ANZAPS-Univ of New England (Australia) (Secretary).