The Structure of PlaNet

The basis of the network is formed by local groups of engaged students at different universities or other types of planning schools all over Europe. These local groups are independent from each other. Their link is the membership in the European network of planning students with its activities and communication structures. As soon as there are five or more students at one planning school they are treated like a local group. But of course also single students can become a member too as long as they are not able to put up a local group at their own university.

Generally students of any field of study can become member of PlaNet as long as they are interested in planning and agree to the aims and principles of PlaNet.

Local groups are the most important bodies of PlaNet as they have to carry out the network tasks and activities. Some important activities are the annual congress of PlaNet, the maintenance of the PlaNet website and the mailinglist for easy and quick communication.

The tasks of PlaNet are linked to its activities. First there are some administration jobs like coordinator, contact person or webmaster necessary to keep PlaNet working, to have an overview of the different cells of the network and to ensure a trusty communication with other planning organisations. They can be passed to another person or local group each year but do not have to as continuity in these jobs can be helpful. The most powerful task is the council meeting of PlaNet which is meant to be held shortly before the annual congress. Representatives of all local groups come together for two days to discuss and consider matters of the network like allocating the tasks and activities for the following year or changes on the statutes. Only local groups have a vote in the council meeting (one for each group) but not individual members.

But this is only the formal side of the network structure. For the success of the network the informal side is much more important. This means permanent contact and exchange among the network members like visits, letters etc. apart from bigger meetings which gives life to PlaNet and makes it more than just a scientific organisation of future planners.