Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The final practice unit in the course, Regional Planning Practice, focuses on planning and development issues of metropolitan regions in order to develop your capacities for large-scale strategic-level planning. In doing so, the unit provides opportunities to further develop and apply wide-ranging skills (e.g., analysis, problem-solving and synthesis introduced and explored earlier in the Planning Processes and Regional and Metropolitan Policy units) to real-world situations.

Aims

The unit aims to develop knowledge and skills for effective strategic planning and coordination of a positive metropolitan regional change.

Objectives

On completion of this unit, you will have developed the abilities to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding and capability to apply regional planning theories and principles;
2. Review regional planning methods critically (e.g., objective formulation, analysis, synthesis, evaluation and implementation) to create effective strategic frameworks for regional development;
3. Integrate and apply the practice material taught in other units and professional practice.

Content

The unit is a project-based one and will involve collaboration with the key planing and development actors (e.g., local and regional public and private sector planning and development agencies and stakeholders) of a metropolitan region. The project is divided into stages reflecting the structure of the regional planning process. The stages of the project are:

- Stage 1: Appraisal of the existing state and current policies, opportunities and pressures affecting the metropolitan region, including evaluations by stakeholders, and identification of draft strategic development directions and objectives.
- Stage 2: Analysis of the regional activity systems, policies and priority issues; synthesis of information about different activities and interests of different groups into coherent options, and formation of revised strategic development directions and objectives.
- Stage 3: Preperation of final strategic development directions and objectives, and formulation of guiding vision, policies, development plan proposals, and implementation strategies.

A project brief further detailing the case study region along with the specifics of the project will be provided at the first class meeting.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode
Hours per Week: 3
Lecture: 1
Tutorial/Prac: 2

Learning approaches include problem solving, individual- and team-based learning and presentation, reflection, exposition and peer evaluation.
Teaching involves lectures and discussions as well as briefings and evaluations by relevant representatives and stakeholders, including public and private sector agencies and regional interest groups. Learning is organised into a number of stages, each of which includes both individual and group work. The unit involves site visits to the study region.

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP c/5.1.Formative assessment and feedback is provided in cycles of discussion between staff and students in practice-based weekly studios. Each of the stages of the project is used for both formative and summative assessment.

Assessment name: Regional Appraisal
Description: The regional appraisal will be produced as a poster based on individual work. The appraisal will focus on: perceived problems and potentialities; existing and emerging planning and development paradigms, trends and policies; the significance for the study region of metropolitan, national and international contexts, and; study region's potential strategic development directions.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Regional Activity Report
Description: The regional activity report will be based on individual work. The report will focus on one of the regional activity topics, each of which investigates a major regional activity area or development domain. The report will: investigate current developmental issues and policies; scrutunise existing and projected needs and resources, and; establish a draft vision to form the basis for identifying study region's strategic development directions concerning the specific activity topic.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 25%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Regional Development Plan
Description: The regional development plan will be produced as a result of a group work. The plan will focus on preparing proposals in both display and report formats to fulfil the vision and objectives emerged from the earlier stages of the project. The plan will include: a brand; vision and statement; strategic development directions; objective-based policy framework and policy statements; strategic development maps (topical and composite), and; implementation strategies to guide future development for the study region. The plan will also be presented orally. As this stage requires group work, a portion of your marks will be determined by peer assessment.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Reading List:

1. Alden, J., and Boland, P., (Eds.) (1996). Regional Development Strategy: A European Perspective, London: Regional Studies Association.
2. Asheim, B., Cooke, P., and Martin, R., (2010). Clusters and Regional Development: Critical Reflections and Explorations, London: Routledge.
3. Edgington, D., Fernandez, A., and Hoshino, C., (2001). New Regional Development Paradigms: New Regions, Concepts, Issues, and Practices, London: Greenwood Press.
4. Glasson, J., and Marshall, T., (2007). Regional Planning, New York: Routledge
5. Metaxiotis, K., Carrillo, J., and Yigitcanlar, T., (Eds.) (2010). Knowledge-Based Development of Cities and Societies: An Integrated Multi-Level Approach. London: Information Science Reference.
6. Salet, W., Thornley, A., and Kreukels, A., (Eds.) (2003). Metropolitan Governance and Spatial Planning: Comparative Case Studies of European City-Regions, New York: Spoon Press.
7. Self, P., (1982). Planning the Urban Region, London: George Allen & Unwin.
8. Stohr, W., Edralin, J., and Mani, D., (2001). New Regional Development Paradigms: Decentralization, Governance, and the New Planning for Local-Level Development, London: Greenwood Press.
9. Yigitcanlar, T., Metaxiotis, K., and Carrillo, J., (Eds.) (2012). Building Prosperous Knowledge Cities: Policies, Plans and Metrics. London: Edward Elgar Publishing.
10. Yigitcanlar, T., Velibeyoglu, K., and Baum, S., (Eds.) (2008). Knowledge-Based Urban Development: Planning and Applications in the Information Era. London: Information Science Reference.
11. Yigitcanlar, T., Velibeyoglu, K., and Baum, S., (Eds.) (2008). Creative Urban Regions: Harnessing Urban Technologies to Support Knowledge City Initiatives. London: Information Science Reference.

Additional Costs:
Site visits to the study region will involve you in some travel expenses.

Risk assessment statement

The unit involves individual and group regional field trips. You must have attended a safety induction session and have a safety induction card. The School provides a Safety Induction Course in the first week of semester, which introduces you to the relevant workplace, health and safety requirements applicable in Queensland.

Health & Safety Inductions:

Students are required to complete the following Induction/Certificates:
1. General Safety Induction (Completed On-Line)
2. General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card - WHITE CARD (this will facilitate students attending construction worksites)

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 28-May-2012