50th Anniversary Celebration Conference

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State, 27-29 July 2025, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Host: University of The Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, South Africa | Theme: Transforming Urban and Regional Planning and Human Settlements: Continuity and Change

Organisers

Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Free State

Conference Venues

University of the Free State, Bloemfontein (South) Campus, South Africa

Objectives

This conference celebrates the 50^th anniversary of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of the Free State. In commemorating this significant milestone in the department’s history, we invite leaders, researchers, former and current students, practitioners, policymakers and stakeholders involved in urban planning and human settlement development to join in the celebrations and participate in discussions on the conference theme: Planning for Human Settlements: Continuity and Change. The conference invites speakers to deliberate on past, present and future issues inherent in our cities and regions and reflect on the role of planning in achieving sustainable human settlements. Training and education will play an important role in increasing the capabilities and impact of educators and professionals. The conference will also focus on how planners, policymakers, and researchers can foster inclusive, resilient, dynamic local economies supporting broader development goals.

The conference will address the following topics

1. Planning education – teaching, learning and capacity development in a transforming urban and regional academic environment.
2. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and other technological innovations in urban and regional planning for human settlements.
3. Climate change adaptations in planning, human settlements and local economic development.
4. Emancipatory research methodologies and methods in urban and regional planning (e.g. countermapping, co-production, citizen science).
5. Housing and sustainable human settlements: new approaches to research, education and training.
6. Planning for informality.
7. Land governance and management (land-based financing, land value capture, land reform).
8. Urban and regional economies: Planning as an enabler for (local) economic development.
9. Planning for sustainable infrastructure and service provision.
10. Spatial transformation and social justice as a means towards equal access to the city.
11. Sustainable development goals as planning imperatives.
12. Planning in the financialised city

Important information

• Abstract length: Maximum 300 words
• Abstract submission: 15 April 2025
• Notifications of abstract acceptance: 30 April 2025
•   Postgraduate poster submission: 1 June 2025
• Submission link on Oxford Abstracts platform:

https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/78331/submitter

Conference registration opens: 30 May to 15 June 2025

Late registration: 16 June to 7 July 2025

Registration Fees:

Students

• Early bird registration – R500
• Late registration - R700

Academics and professionals

• Early bird registration - R1 500
• Late registration - R2 000

For enquiries, please contact: 

Prof Abraham Matamanda MatamandaRA@ufs.ac.za 

DR Kgosi Mocwagae MocwagaeKS@ufs.ac.za 

Mr Thomas Stewart StewartT@ufs.ac.za

Organising Committee

• Associate Prof Abraham Matamanda – (Chairperson)
• Mr Thomas Stewart – (Co-Chairperson)

Scientific Committee

• Associate Prof Abraham Matamanda
• Associate Prof Andreas Scheba
• Prof Verna Nel
• Prof Maléne Campbell
• Dr Kgosi Mocwagae
• Dr Shamiso Mafuku
• Dr Johannes Bhanye
• Mrs Siphokazi Rammile
• Mr Thomas Stewart