Interuniversity Department of Urban and Regional Studies & Planning (DIST)

The Interuniversity Department of Urban and Regional Studies & Planning (DIST) of the Politecnico e Università di Torino (http://www.dist.polito.it) is the result of a joint venture between the Politecnico and the other main Turin public university: the University of Turin. The core mission of DIST focuses on educational and research activities in urban studies, spatial planning and the built environment, including the management of historical, cultural, economic, technological, environmental, natural and built heritages. Thanks to its unique inter-university structure, the DIST department joins the scientific and cultural approaches of the Politecnico di Torino (architecture, engineering and management) with the Università di Torino ones (political, economic and social sciences).

DIST is involved in various research activities relating to all aspects of the natural and built environment. The interplay between technical and societal issues forms a key element of its research. DIST research projects are commissioned by local, regional and national authorities, European and international institutions and agencies, as well as private actors and organisations. Research activities are carried out with a cross-disciplinary approach, which breaks the boundaries separating the traditional disciplines through researchers’ cooperation. The Department’s cross- disciplinary identity is also evident in the wide range of courses: from bachelor’s to master’s degrees, from postgraduate courses and specialising master’s courses to the PhD course in Urban and Regional Development. Furthermore, a large number of the courses offered are jointly organised by Politecnico and Università and/or by different departments of other universities.