Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Purpose

Upon completion learners will be able to

• Apply an overall understanding of how cities work as instruments of social and economic networks and what the data and research requirements are to create the kinds of data bases that are necessary for informed decision making and planning at the local, provincial and national levels of government.
• Have an advanced applied knowledge of the social and economic networking of individuals and groups within private and public urban space as it manifests at different levels of urban spatial aggregation and the outcomes of the different kinds of networking measured in terms of internationally acceptable forms of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
• Have knowledge of the spectrum of spatial social and economic urban and regional planning problems that could occur as part of the dynamism of urban systems, the negative influences that they may have on the quality of people's lives, and ways in which resulting challenges are addressed in planning best practices in different parts of the world.
• Have knowledge of options that are available for the planning and execution of service provision in the urban environment and creative ways in which it could be expanded or improved.
• Have knowledge of urban and regional planning and management instruments and their application in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.
• Possess skills to identify and apply appropriate planning and research methodologies when analysing different elements of human activities within the urban environment and the ability to correctly judge what the data requirements are for such analyses.
• Master the skill of application of a variety of geographical analysis techniques available for socio-economic planning analysis with emphasis on GIS as an applications tool in decision-making.
• Develop the skills to critically evaluate communication - oral or in printed format - and to utilise modern electronic hard- and software as instruments of communication in this qualification.
• Develop a value system that will facilitate the appropriate and balanced use of knowledge in the solving of development problems in urban and regional planning systems.

Rationale

Based on the general need that was expressed by the public sector, Statistics South Africa has approached the University to develop a Master's qualification that is specifically designed to equip appropriately qualified public officials at the local, provincial and national levels of government in the area of systematic urban and regional analysis, policy making and planning. The Master's planning qualification does not aim to replicate but rather to create a supplementary qualification at Postgraduate level. In terms of the brief the qualification is designed to equip public officials with the right kinds of practical analytical expertise to enable them to dissect, interpret and plan urban and regional networks. A knowledge gap is covered in the qualification that is not covered by existing taught postgraduate planning qualification that are on offer at this or any other university in the country. It provides specialised analytical knowledge to professionals that are working in the field of urban and regional planning at different levels of spatial aggregation, from intra-urban through local, regional and national to international. People who are qualified as urban and regional or development planners, as well as learners that have obtained an Honours degree in geography, public management, economics, statistics or mathematics could benefit from this qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The University's official Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be rigorously followed if needed but the Department intends to identify learners that are suitably equipped to successfully complete the qualification.

Entry Requirements

Admission requirements are an NQF Level 8 Professional Bachelors Degree in Planning or Engineering or an Honours Degree with Geography, Economics, Public Administration, Statistics or Mathematics as the major. The ARPL route may be employed to broaden access beyond these requirements.

The qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits

• Human Network Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Economic Network Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Urban Infrastructure Network Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Urban Form and Structure Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Urban Systems Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Research Assignment, 10 Credits.
• Statistical Urban Analysis, 10 Credits.
• GIS - Urban Systems Applications, 10 Credits.
• Planning Legislation, 10 Credits.
• Planning Theory, 10 Credits.
• Land Use Management Practice, 10 Credits.
• Planning Design, 10 Credits.
• Urban Management Processes, 60 Credits.

1. Apply an understanding of how cities work as instruments of social and economic networks.
2. Show advanced applied knowledge of the social and economic networking of individuals and groups within private and public urban space as it manifests at different levels of urban spatial aggregation and the outcomes of the different kinds of networking measured in terms of internationally acceptable forms of social, economic and environmental sustainability.
3. Apply knowledge of the spectrum of spatial social and economic urban and regional planning problems that could occur as part of the dynamism of urban systems.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of urban and regional planning and management instruments and their application in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.
5. Master the skill of application of a variety of geographical analysis techniques available for socio-economic planning analysis with emphasis on GIS as an applications tool in decision-making.
6. Explain relevant planning legislation, policies and strategies influencing the management of various urban networks and processes.
7. Identify and apply appropriate planning and research methodologies when analysing different elements of human activities within the urban environment and to correctly judge what the data requirements are for such analyses are.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The rationality of different elements of the city is explained.
• The role of personal space in the functioning and evolution of cities is outlined.
• The role of group dynamics in cities and how they affect urban planning are appropriately specified.
• The dynamics of mobility transition are critically distinguished between different explanations of migration.
• The dynamics of international labour migration and their impact on the spatial, social and economic problems that urban settlements face in different parts of the world are outlined.
• General knowledge of migration trends and migration policies in different parts of the world analysed.
• Knowledge of the differences between the composition and functioning of urban systems in the Developed and Developing Worlds is applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Issues revolving around urban land use regulation, land value, housing markets, hedonic pricing and welfare economics are identified and addressed.
• Various land use management processes and tools for the execution of standard planning activities are explained.
• Perception on the impact of globalisation on economic and social space internationally and locally is analysed.
• Concepts such as colonialism, new-colonialism, fordism, post-fordism, and post-industrialism and their impact on developed, newly industrialised and developing societies are understood.
• Practical understanding of the spatial and structural relationships between industry, commerce and services within the formal and informal business sector nationally and within cities in the North, South, Africa and South Africa is demonstrated.
• The relationship between spatial inequality, skills, over urbanisation, unemployment, underemployment and misemployment in South Africa are studied and outlined in detailed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Various types of and interaction between urban infrastructure networks are analysed.
• The relationship between urban infrastructure and urban form and structure is outlined.
• Knowledge of urban housing types, processes, and spatial distribution and change is used.
• Broad perspective of transport networks, modes, its impact on urban form and functioning, and responses to transport challenges are analysed.
• Knowledge of urban civil services (e.g. water, sanitation, electricity, etc) and its influence on urban form and structure is applied.
• A perspective on Information and Communication Technology in urban systems is used and its impact on the form and functioning of urban systems is acknowledged.
• Knowledge of the information and data requirements to support the planning and management of urban infrastructure networks is applied.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Various urban management processes and tools for guiding the interrelated components of urban spatial networks are applied.
• Policies and strategies influencing the management of various urban networks and processes are implemented.
• Broad perspective on policies, strategies and tools/techniques for management and guidance of human networks in urban systems and its rural hinterlands are implemented.
• Concepts of urban ecological networks and sustainability, and strategies and management processes for guiding urban ecological processes are developed.
• Knowledge of the different urban management processes and tools are applied at municipal, provincial, national, sub-continental, continental and global scales.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Understanding geographical data forms, their functions and purposes is applied.
• Elementary statistical concepts are explained and practically applied and descriptive statistics are calculated.
• Data is analysed by means of comparisons, contrasts, similarities, relationships and dimensions, using appropriate software.
• Theoretical and practical understanding of various methods of statistical analysis is demonstrated.
• Appropriate methods of statistical analysis for application to specific scenarios within the discipline of urban and regional science are identified.
• Statistical concepts and analysis are presented and explained with appropriate graphical techniques and presentations.
• Basic understanding of GIS theory, map projections and coordinate systems is demonstrated.
• An understanding of appropriate spatial data management principles and practices is demonstrated.
• Maps are generated using GIS software and appropriate GIS applications and spatial analysis tools are used in the context of urban and regional systems analysis.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• The role of different role players in the urban and regional planning field and the role of the planner in these activities are explained.
• The appropriate role of quantitative and qualitative techniques in planning and planning research in the guidance of urban development processes are outlined.
• The concepts of urban ecological networks and sustainability, and strategies and management processes for guiding urban ecological processes are explained.
• Different urban management processes and tools applied at municipal, provincial, national, sub-continental, continental and global scales are made explicit.
• The need and advantages of the integrated development process are drawn.
• Knowledge of the purpose of and need for project management in urban and regional planning is demonstrated.
• The impact of policies and strategies on project management approaches are explained.
• Explain the importance and performance of contract administration, compilation and administration of business plans are explained.
• Tenders and tender processes are explained and analysed.
• The potential impact of legislation on the South African society and of urban and regional management processes at the local, regional, provincial and national levels of decision making is explained.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Design of research projects is explained and the appropriate aims and goals for desired outcomes in urban and regional planning formulated.
• Problems worth investigating are identified and creative ways of solving those problems found.
• Worthwhile applications of the research results in practice are found and the results are effectively disseminated and communicated to the end-user.
• Research is independently conducted, evaluated and applied.
• Assessment of appropriate academic and practical standards applicable to the research project, the most appropriate research methodologies that are required to analyse different elements of the research topic at hand, appropriate data requirements, and the availability of the data in appropriate formats for the study are explained.
• A research report is written.
• The writing and composition of a scientific journal paper is explained.

Integrated Assessment

Tests and Assignments

In each 10 credit module, an one hour prepared test, a presentation of the learner on an assigned topic that ties in thematically with the module content, an assignment of not more than 2000 words and a three hour examination will be used to assess the learners' mastery of the contents and its value.

All three marks contribute to the final summative mark, but the first test also acts as diagnostic tool to identify knowledge gaps, and formative comments are provided with the marking of the assignments.

Experiential learning and the integration of real-world scenarios with the theory will be assessed through the above-mentioned tests and assignments.