WP2 of MLUMSE project successfully finalized in July 2025. This Work Package (WP) aims to comprehensively analyze the current situation in the Southern Mediterranean in the relevant fields of urban planning and land management in order to identify existing challenges and opportunities. It further assessed the specific needs of partner higher education institutions (HEIs) and their respective countries, ensuring that project activities are tailored to local contexts. In parallel, the project examined what Europe currently offers in the fields, highlighting emerging trends and best practices that can inform future development. To gather broader input and evidence, a survey was conducted among key stakeholders. Finally, the project organized a workshop where the findings of these analyses, along with proposals for curriculum modernization, were presented and discussed with academic and professional experts.

This WP2 consisted of the following tasks:

• T2.1 Analysis of European Union (EU) policies and initiatives on land and urban planning and development
• T2.2 Identifying Southern Mediterranean (SM) land and urban development issuesand stakeholder needs
• T2.3 Analysis of EU and SM existing curricula on land & urban area planning and sustainable management
• T2.4 Workshop on innovative approaches and technologies for sustainable land/urban planning and management and future challenges

Task T2.1 provides an overview of numerous global and EU initiatives and policies related to sustainable land planning and management, with a particular focus on urban areas. It identifies key challenges faced by Southern Mediterranean countries, which are grouped into two main categories: challenges related to governance and management, and those associated with urban planning. Furthermore, the analysis highlights two major innovation trends shaping the field: Land Administration through Fit-For-Purpose Approaches and Urban Digital Twins – Data-Driven Platforms for City Planning. These trends are illustrated through examples of successful practices implemented at various administrative levels, demonstrating their practical relevance and potential for adaptation.

Task T2.2 focuses on conducting an in-depth assessment of the current status of urban and land planning systems in the three Southern Mediterranean countries— Egypt, Morocco, and Jordan. The analysis examines the organizational structures of planning systems, identifies key challenges, and evaluates the level of integration of modern technologies and smart city concepts within each national context. In parallel, the task includes the implementation of a comprehensive online stakeholder survey across the three partner countries. The survey aims to collect insights and expectations from diverse stakeholder groups, including students, academics, public sector representatives, government officials, and business professionals. It explores perspectives on governance, digital readiness, geospatial technology adoption, and capacity-building needs. The comprehensive survey was executed with Spring 2025. In total more than 400 stakeholders across the three countries responded to the survey ensuring that the findings are representative and meaningful. The combined outcomes of the analytical work and survey provides valuable input for aligning educational modernization efforts with real-world needs and technological trends in the region.

Task T2.3 aims to enhance higher education in the Southern Mediterranean (SM) region through the modernization of curricula in geospatial technology for urban planning and land management. The task analyses confirm that while SM universities offer foundational programs in land and urban planning, these curricula need significant modernization to address pressing regional challenges and align with international best practices. The task clearly identifies common educational needs across the region: Training in GIS, remote sensing, data management, and AI applications in spatial planning; emphasis on public engagement, governance frameworks, and smart urban development. Moreover, the task also referred to the need for courses that better reflect local socio-economic and climate-related challenges. Drawing from the task’s comparative curricula analysis and stakeholder input, it recommends the development or improvement of the following courses: Land Administration Through Fit-For-Purpose Approaches, and Urban Digital Twins: Data-Driven Platforms for City Planning, Integrated Urban Land Management, Applied GIS and Remote Sensing for Urban Resilience, Participatory Planning and Public Engagement, Urban and Land Governance and Policy Design, and Land administration, valuation and property markets.

Task T2.4 referred to the organization of a workshop on innovative approaches and technologies for sustainable land/urban planning and management and future challenges. The main results of the in-depth analyses conducted under tasks T2.1, T2.2 and T2.3 were presented and discussed.  The online workshop was held on June 25^th, 2025. The number of registration was more than 100 participants. Several key speakers delivered relevant and informative presentations related to the project perspective and from different sectors including Academia, private sector, government agencies and industry sectors.