The Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) is a network of universities and university departments that teach and conduct research within the field of urban and regional planning.

The network exists to promote the development of the teaching curricula and research within the Member Schools through regular dialogue, exchange visits and the dissemination of research and best practice. These aims are achieved through an Annual Congress where staff and students make presentations and discuss papers on European, national, regional and local spatial planning issues, as well as debates on planning curricula. A three-day PhD workshop precedes the Congress.

All of the prominent planning schools in Europe are members, and more and more schools and individuals in the world of planning are deciding to join. Also wishing to associate themselves with AESOP's aims and activities are a number of enlightened organisations concerned with planning aspects of government, property and development. AESOP has over 175 members including 100 full members and 40 associate members.

ITC's department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management (PGM) has recently been accepted in the category full membership. "For ITC this membership is an excellent instrument for further networking with other Schools of Planning in Europe" says Chris Paresi, Chairman PGM and ITC's contact person for AESOP.

For more information about the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) see http://www.aesop-planning.com/