The pedagogic activity of the Department of Urban Design, Town and Regional Planning is oriented towards urban planning and regional planning as a complex concept, from urban planning theory and urban design to planning tools. Urban planning is understood as a component of architecture. Therefore, instruction is a well-balanced mix of approaches based upon creativity, original individuality and invention, architectural perception of spatial design on the one hand and approaches ensuing from capability to make use of technical disciplines of civil engineering, social, economic and environmental bases and tools of regional planning on the other. The department provides instruction in urban and regional planning disciplines particularly within the Architecture and Building Engineering and Environmental Engineering branches of study, but also in other branches taught at the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
Students in the branch of Environmental Engineering specialized in Urban and Regional Planning are ready for a career in the state administration bodies, in local authorities, in specialized design, consultancy, developer firms and in the business sector.
The research and development activity of the department is focused on town and regional development strategies with an emphasis on the environment, sustainable development and landscape creation and preservation. The department staff members are involved in professional practice providing consultation and advisory services for the state administration and local authorities, elaborating regional planning background materials and documents, expert opinions and expertise and participating in national as well as international conferences. The department organizes a lifelong learning course “Evaluation of the Effect of Planned Structures and Land Use in terms of Interventions in the Landscape” and its staff members also give lectures within other lifelong learning programmes.
The department has contacts with TU Delf, Sheffield Hallam University, Heriot-Watt University, British Council + Know-How-Fund, Legambiente Campania, University of Southampton, Kansas State University.
The department also provides instruction for doctoral degree students.