Urban sprawl is one of the major challenges facing urbanizing societies. This study quantifies the extent of urban sprawl in southern Poland's four most populous metropolitan areas, encompassing 164 municipalities, and assesses the effectiveness of spatial planning strategies aimed at limiting sprawl. The first phase of the research establishes comparative parameters for evaluating sprawl across these urban regions. To measure it, we apply the weighted urban proliferation (WUP) method, which comprises three indicators: the proportion of built-up land, the degree of spatial dispersion, and land consumption per capita. The most dispersed metropolitan areas are Rzeszów and Upper Silesia-Zagłębiowska and the most compact are Kraków and Wrocław. In the second phase, we analyze sprawl at the municipal level and examine how specific planning instruments—namely local spatial development plans (MPZPs) and decisions on land development and management conditions (WZs)—influence its occurrence. We correlate the WUP metrics for each municipality with the percentage of land covered by MPZPs in 2018 and the total number of WZs issued from 2009 to 2018. The analysis reveals diverse sprawl patterns, shaped by differing historical contexts, planning coverage (MPZPs), and intensity of WZ decisions. Notably, the number of WZs per square kilometer appears to exert a stronger impact on sprawl dynamics than the mere extent of MPZP coverage. Our findings indicate only weak to moderate correlations between the presence of MPZPs and sprawling development, suggesting the need for more targeted and effective anti-sprawl planning policies. This study highlights the critical role of well-designed spatial management tools for coping with urban expansion. • Weighted urban proliferation (WUP), integrating land use, dispersion, and population density, is applied in Poland. • The most dispersed metro areas are Rzeszów and Upper Silesia-Zagłębiowska and the most compact are Kraków and Wrocław. • Certain regions are more dispersed due to historical legacies, weak planning, and high intensity of land development. • Due to the low effectiveness of local spatial development plans, new tools should be used to limit urban sprawl. • The WUP method enables new empirical evidence of planning effectiveness in Polish cities.

As centers of knowledge and innovation, universities not only educate but also shape the urban landscapes around them. This study addresses the underexplored role of universities within the 15-Minute City concept by linking the university's functional mix with the 15-Minute City's areas of transformation, thereby proposing a novel framework of the 15-Minute University. To operationalize this concept, we develop a replicable four-step methodology combining spatial analysis, emotional mapping, and stakeholder surveys to assess campus accessibility and future potential. The methodology is validated through a case study of the Technical University of Košice (TUKE), revealing key insights into current campus functionality and opportunities for transformation. Findings emphasize the significance of university campuses as multifunctional community assets that extend beyond academic purposes, urging university authorities, city management and urban planners to collaboratively foster inclusive, accessible, and vibrant campus environments. The study concludes with implementable soft and hard policy measures aimed at enhancing quality of life for students, staff, and local residents, thus contributing to resilient and livable urban ecosystems. • The novel 15-Minute University concept is introduced by linking the university functional mix with the 15-Minute City. • A four-step methodological approach is developed to assess the 15-Minute University. • A case study of the Technical University of Košice, Slovakia, validates the methodology. and its urban planning relevance. • Policy measures are identified to enhance university-neighborhood quality of life and urban resilience.