Open call for VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026

APPLY BY 7 APRIL 2026

Are you a young professional or student passionate about shaping spatial planning solutions for the Baltic Sea Region’s future development? Do you have ideas on how to strengthen the region’s resilience and adapt to climate change, while balancing the use of land and sea space? Can you think of ways how to ensure sustainable connections between goods and people, or how to make use of digital tools and artificial intelligence in spatial planning?

VASAB (Visions and Strategies Around the Baltic Sea) and Gdańsk University of Technology announce an open call for applications to the VASAB Young Planners’ Summer School 2026 “Navigate Planning Through Changes”, an international contest and collaborative learning event to be held in Gdańsk, Poland, from 23–29 August 2026. The Summer School will engage young professionals in shaping the future of the Baltic Sea Region, providing an opportunity to build a network of next-generation planners, make new contacts, and connect with the spatial planning community.

During the Summer School international and cross-sectoral teams will be formed to prepare propositions on spatial planning challenges regarding resilience, climate change, mobility and effective land-use. Teams will be provided with introductory workshops, and team mentors will be available through the whole Summer School. The best ideas developed during the Summer School will be presented at the high-level VASAB meeting and may contribute to future VASAB strategic documents.

How to apply?

• Download application form here.
• Describe one major challenge that the Baltic Sea Region faces today and that is of particular importance for its future spatial development.
• Fill in the application form and send it by 7 April 2026 via email young.planners@vasab.org
• Read full Summer School regulation here.

Who can participate?

• Young professionals with a Master’s or doctoral degree, or who are currently studying at the Master’s or doctoral level or other postgraduate levels from a wide variety of disciplines related to geography, spatial planning, and regional studies in a broad sense;
• Not older than 35 years, but have not worked in the same field for more than 5 years;
• Are studying or working in one of the VASAB member countries (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden) and Norway, Denmark, Ukraine;
• Have an interest in regional development and/or spatial and/or strategic planning;
• Participants must be available to participate in the Summer School in Gdansk, Poland, from 23 to 29 August 2026.

Participation in the Summer School is free of change. Travel costs (max 200 EUR per participant), accommodation and catering costs for participants will be covered.

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