planning course at UCC

Masters in Planning and Sustainable Development M.Plan
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK

Departments of Geography, Applied Social Studies and Sociology, U.C.C

New Professional Course at University College Cork Starts October 2006

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS
16TH MAY 2006
Applications must be made on-line through http://www.pac.ie quoting course code CKE69

FURTHER INFORMATION:
For details of entry requirements and application procedure, see the UCC
Postgraduate Prospectus: http://www.ucc.ie/en/CKE69
or contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office, UCC
Tel: +353 21 490 2645

For Information about course content, please contact:
Brendan O’Sullivan,
Email: brendan.osullivan@ucc.ie

BACKGROUND

The M.Plan is a new two-year full-time masters programme which prepares participants for careers in town and country planning, regional and spatial planning and sustainable development.
The programme builds on the wide range of experience, within both the University and the local planning and development professions
The University itself brings to the programme a strong teaching and research portfolio in the social and applied sciences, sustainability, geography, planning and environmental law, ecology, infrastructure, heritage, government and public policy.
With a strong national and international identity and a particular expertise in the fields of sub-regional planning, urban re-generation, rural development and coastal management, Cork and the surrounding counties offer a dynamic learning environment for a new generation of planning professionals.

AIMS OF THE M.PLAN COURSE:

To prepare participants for a career in planning and related sustainable development disciplines;
To present the basis for understanding the real life social, economic, political, legal and environmental contexts in which planning processes take place;
To develop a specialist understanding of contemporary relationships between planning practice, participation and sustainable development.
To foster a creative understanding of environmental dialogues and a capacity to develop collaborative and inventive solutions to urban, regional and rural development challenges
To promote a critical appreciation of public policy formulation and a capacity to engage actively in discussion on the roles of the various participants in planning and development processes;
To provide training in contemporary professional planning skills that can be deployed in areas such as the public service, private development, business, consultancy, community work, heritage and environmental management, international development and academic research.

APPROACH:

This integrated programme places a particular emphasis on the challenges facing Regional Cities and City-Regions and on the special planning requirements of Coastal settlements and their Rural hinterlands. With real-world Stakeholder Dialogues and a strong International focus as key themes of programme, the M.Plan will offer a unique perspective on planning for the 21st century.
The University has commenced accreditation procedures for this programme with the Irish Planning Institute (IPI). This would enable graduates to attain corporate membership (MIPI) and full recognition by the European Council of Town Planners. With a similar process underway with the Royal Town Planning Institute, there will be wide scope for experienced M.Plan graduates to practise internationally.