For over two decades, ISOCARP has been organising International YPP Workshops -traditionally organised prior to annual congresses- which provide young and ambitious planning professionals with an opportunity to work in a multi-cultural setting, share their experiences on real-life planning problems, and exchange ideas and learn from each other as well as from senior colleagues. YPP Workshops aim to provide young planners with the principles and practices of effective contemporary urbanism and practical knowledge. The workshops are intended to stimulate the professional interests and the development of planning skills of younger planners. The objective of the workshops is to provide workshop participants with hands-on practical experiences. YPPs work in a studio setting under the guidance of international experts from among the members of ISOCARP as well as local experts. It already effected in strengthening the professional abilities of more than 500 young planners (so-called YPPs) throughout the world.

History of the YPP Workshops

In 2016, ISOCARP celebrated an important event in the history of the Society – the 25th anniversary of the Young Planning Professionals’ Programme.
The Young Planning Professionals’ Programme was initiated in 1991 by one of the most appreciated members of our society – Estefanía Chavez de Ortega at the 26th ISOCARP Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico. Since then, it has become tradition to organise the workshops in the week preceding the ISOCARP annual World Congress in order to provide unique opportunities to Young Planning Professionals (YPPs) to share their experiences in an attempt to resolve complex and multi-dimensional planning problems. The YPP Programme, together with workshops and intensive training programmes, has become a source of meaningful debate, and new ideas and rejuvenation for the Society; and have made a huge impact on participants’ professional lives and contributed towards making life-long friendships beyond borders, languages, cultures and professional backgrounds. It is now not only a unique opportunity for Young Planning Professionals and post-graduate students from around the world to meet and exchange technical and scientific knowledge, but also a basis for making life-long friends.