Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Purpose

• The purpose is to prepare planners who intend to further their studies after the BURP in planning to go a little deeper at the master's level by preparing a proposal for a master degree which is presented to the University of Venda Higher Degree Committee for approval before writing the dissertation.

The Level Exit Outcome is NQF Level 9 entails the following

• Ability to undertake both research and field data collection skills to enable graduates to work in a variety of planning and development oriented organisations, research institutions and parastatals, private consulting companies and non-governmental organisation (NGO's) in the field of planning. Such academic and research skills is crucial in South Africa given the emphasis on reconstruction and development, particularly within the sphere of urban and regional development, and the current emphasis on integrated development as a key element of developmental local government.
• This programme provides learners with the skills to operate in changing Research and Development dynamic and the changing built environment.

Rationale

• To produce a graduate who is able to deal with complex urban and regional planning issues both systematically and creatively.
• To undertake research topics that cut across a wide field particularly integrated development planning and urban and regional spatial economic and development planning and the details of professional bodies include the following:

> To provide research service to national and private research intuitions and private consultancy firms.

> To fulfill the requirements set by the South African Planning Institute (SAPI) and the South African Council of Town Planners (SACPLAN in terms of research output).

> Research for government entities such as the provincial legislature, and spatial planning at the level of districts and local municipalities.

• The leaners will operate within the research environment by acquiring the knowledge to prepare a research proposal for a Master's Degree which is presented to higher degree committee for approval before writing the dissertation and on completion the qualifying learners will have the opportunity to work in urban planning related research institutions, the research units of the provinces, districts and municipal level of governance spatial planning sections, national departments dealing with settlement, transportation, local economic development and land development issues.
• The appropriate leaning pathway in which the qualification resides on graduating with the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning, learning can continue in the department at the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Level of studies or peruse a Postgraduate Diploma in Urban and Regional Planning in the department. In addition to this graduates can pursue a career pathway in academics and professional areas such as transportation planning, city planning, economic development planning, human settlement in the build environment.
• The benefits to the leaner on obtaining the qualification includes the follows:

> To reach out to communities where possible, by way of practical research and projects, and to make this information accessible to interested constituency groups.

> To undertake research on imbalances of the past especially with respect to spatial imbalances in urban and rural areas in the area of service delivery.

> To develop and refine research methodologies relevant to development and planning.

> To assist in continuously evaluate planning, teaching and learning methodologies to ensure effective planning education.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The admission of candidates is according to the University of Venda`s official Policy on Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which falls in line with South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) requirement for prior learning particularly those learners who have working experience in the built environment and are equipped to successfully complete the qualification.

Entry Requirements

Admission requirements in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) are on NQF Level 8 Professional Bachelor's of Urban and Regional Planning Degree at Honors level. However, RPL route is sometimes broaden and employed to access candidate beyond these requirements:

The candidate should have completed the Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning (BURP) Honours from the University of Venda or any other university in the country or abroad with similar qualification in the built environment with an average score of 60% and above in all subjects or an average of B or a second class Degree and up.

The admission of candidates via prior leaning is according to the University of Venda`s official Policy on Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as contained in the University calendar which falls in line with SAQA RPL requirement for prior learning particularly those learners who have working experience in the built environment and are equipped to successfully complete the qualification.

The rules of combination for masters by research in the field of urban and regional planning constitute: - Regional Planning, Settlement Planning, City Planning, and Rural Planning. The requirement is that graduates exit is at NQF Level 9.

1. The ability to write a master dissertation proposal.
2. The ability to conduct research.
3. Ability to report and/or document research.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The masters dissertation research topic is concisely defined.
• The research problems are clearly stated and summarised in such a way that it warrants the need to undertake the research.
• The research topic must be relevant to the field of urban and regional planning and the built environment in general.
• The literature review should be relevant to the research topic and in the field of urban and regional planning ensuring that all key publications are cited.
• There should be synergy and coherence between all components of the PhD proposal, the statement of research problems, the aim and objectives and how they correspond to the methodology.
• The ability to demonstrate the feasibility of the research project within the given time and budget available.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• The ability to plan and carry out the research project.
• The ability to management the research project.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect research data and ensure appropriate analysis.
• The ability to show that there is scientific accountability of measurements i.e. ensure objectivity , reliability and validity of the parameters of the research.
• The ability to deal with the research contingency and risks issues as they arise.
• Presentation and interpretation of the research results.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Scientific writing ability.
• The ability to analysis and interpret the research results in the context of current knowledge in the field of urban and regional planning.
• Ability to reason and write clearly.
• The validity of the conclusions i.e. how they achieve the research aim and objectives set at the beginning.

Integrated Assessment

The assessment of the MURP by research is three-fold as follows

• The presentation and approval of the proposal by the University of Venda Higher Degree Committee.
• The continuous assessment of the dissertation by the supervisor until it is ready for examination and he or she must return at least a pass before it is sent out to external examiners for assessment.
• Two external examiners must return at least a pass after reading the final dissertation before it is considered a pass dissertation.
• The dissertation is examined by two external examiners who must return at least a pass each.