In the 2025/2026 winter semester, the ‘EU Blended Intensive Programme’ (BIP) was held for the fourth consecutive year in collaboration between Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), Stockholm University (SU), the University of Tours (UT) and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). As part of the master’s project “Moin Future! Climate Adaptation and Protection for Small and Medium-Sized Towns” at the Institute for Environmental Planning, eight international students from the English-taught master’s programme “Environmental Planning and Territorial Development” conducted an in-depth study of the small to medium-sized town of Leer in Lower Saxony. During the project, the group focused particularly on the topic of water management. Building on GIS analyses and empirical data collection, the students ultimately developed recommendations for action for the town of Leer.
Armed with these new skills, the students travelled to Landskrona in Sweden in March 2026 as part of the BIP programme. Landskrona is a small town situated between Malmö and Helsingborg. Students from the four universities spend a week intensively examining the challenges and opportunities of urban development. They worked in eight project groups and explored topics such as the revitalisation of the city centre, the integration of green and blue infrastructure, the promotion of active mobility, and the redevelopment of a railway and industrial site.
The project gave students the opportunity to explore urban planning challenges facing small and medium-sized towns from an international perspective and to discuss innovative solutions. The students also had the opportunity to live and work locally, and undertook excursions to the neighbouring cities of Lund and Malmö. Their collaborative work resulted in valuable proposals for the future development of Landskrona and provided the students with a unique learning experience. To conclude the project, the groups presented their findings and ideas at a public event organised by the city council and attended by interested members of the public.
