Adaptation of Urban Planning to Climate Change

Today, urban planning faces many challenges of socio-economic, engineering, environmental, and aesthetic aspects. As a result, qualification of urban planners becomes increasingly important. In rapidly changing information society, professional mobility is a key factor for success. This fact reflects the growing need of labor market for professionals in the urban planning sector who possess the skills to tackle a variety of challenges across a broad range of specializations and fields. Purpose: The aim of this article is the analysis of the compliance of the main professional educational programme in the field of urban planning with the current requirements of employers regarding the professional competence of urban planners, as well as challenges posed by climatic changes. Methodology/approach: The content analysis of professional standards and qualification guides is conducted to identify the key competencies of urban planners. Through expert interviews and surveys of representatives from relevant companies, government bodies and design institutes, current market demands are identified, i.e., the tools in demand (software and analytical methods), the lack of practical skills among graduates, and typical case studies illustrating the gap between theory and practice. Based on the comparative analysis of curricula, the competences set out in the State Educational Standards are compared with the actual requirements of employers. Research findings: Changes to the content of the academic programme ‘Architectural Physics and Climatology’ are justified and proposed, including the expansion of topics on climate modelling, adaptive design, green and blue infrastructure, and the water management, which will significantly improve the training quality. Value: Modernization of the academic programme will enhance competencies of urban planners and ensure the design of buildings and infrastructure that are resilient to extreme weather events (droughts, floods, storms), reduce the carbon footprint in the urban environment, and facilitate the implementation of green infrastructure.