Mafalda is currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), in the department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management (PGM), of the University of Twente. She is also a researcher at PLUS - People, Land and Urban Systems, at ITC.

She received her PhD in Urban Planning in 2014, from the Blekinge Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Circle - Center for Innovation, Research and Learning in the learning Economy, at Lund University, in Sweden. She holds a bachelor in Geography from the University of Porto, in Portugal, and a master in European Spatial Planning and Regional Development, from the Blekinge Institute of Technology, in Sweden.

Expertise

Mafalda Madureira is an experienced researcher in Urban Geography with a strong focus on the intersection of technology, citizen science, and urban planning. Her work explores how public participation can be harnessed to improve policy-making and planning processes, contributing to the creation of more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban spaces.

Her key research areas include the use of planning support systems (PSS) and citizen engagement strategies to inform urban planning decisions, as well as examining the social and spatial patterns that emerge from different planning strategies. Mafalda has a specific interest in addressing urban fragmentation and inequalities through targeted policy solutions. Mafalda's research on creative industries and informality in urban kampungs in Indonesia has provided valuable insights into the complex relationships between informal settlements and economic development. She is also investigating how technology and ICTs can support social participation in the design and management of public spaces, fostering stronger community engagement and empowering citizens in shaping their urban environments.

As a dedicated PhD supervisor, Mafalda mentors students working on cutting-edge topics, such as the institutionalization of Planning Support Systems and the role of ICTs in urban governance. Her interdisciplinary approach, bridging urban planning, economic geography, and regional development, ensures a holistic perspective on the urban challenges of today.

Her PhD thesis focused on urban planning practices associated with an entrepreneurial approach to urban policy and governance. She was also the selected scholar to work on a project for the Swedish Agency for Innovation (VINNOVA), focused on the reformulated objectives for the Cohesion Policy (2007-2013) and the opportunities this offered for national innovation agencies. She participated in the EU project MERIPA, that aimed to define tools for the identification, promotion and benchmarking of regional economic clusters.

As an educator, Mafalda has taught and supervised master’s students from diverse countries, bringing a global and comparative perspective to her courses. She has developed and delivered courses for multicultural student groups in Sweden, Brazil, and the Netherlands, where her teaching integrates international insights and encourages transdisciplinary approaches. Mafalda’s academic experience is enriched by her involvement in Erasmus+ projects and in the ECIU network (European Consortium of Innovative Universities), which focus on fostering collaboration in education and capacity development across borders.

Her courses emphasize close connections to society and practice, and her teaching methodology invites students to engage with real-world issues and challenges in urban planning. With her unique blend of research, teaching, and international experience, Mafalda provides students and colleagues with a comprehensive understanding of urban planning that is both theoretically rigorous and deeply connected to global urban realities.