In January 2003 the RTPI Education Commission published its final report, which makes a number of recommendations regarding planning education and its links to membership of the RTPI. Read the full Education Commission Report.

Many of these recommendations have since been taken forward and form the backbone of the RTPI’s education and membership policies and processes. Intensive planning Masters degrees can now be taken in one year full-time, and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) has been introduced to strengthen the requirements for graduates post-higher education, as well as better supporting them in their progression to Chartered Membership. The RTPI has revolutionised its relationship with Planning Schools through the Partnership Board process, and strengthened its dialogue with employers through the introduction of RTPI Learning Partners. A new Membership class, Associate Membership, has also been introduced to better support the needs of planners who enter the profession without an accredited qualification.

Five years on it is now appropriate to review those recommendations from the Commission that have not yet been taken forward, to assess whether they are still appropriate and whether there is a demand from the profession. This is also in the context of reviewing the RTPI’s policy statement on initial planning education to confirm its fitness for purpose. (Read the current Policy Statement on Initial Planning Education).

Consultation

In order to take forward this review, the consultation papers will be issued in a number of stages and will be available through these web pages. Different elements of planning education provision will be covered in different consultation papers, and these are set out below, with live links where the papers have already been issued. Consultation questions are included within each paper, but we welcome any responses, whether or not they directly relate to the questions posed. 

Please note that while the live links below are made available for your information, this first round of consultation closed on Friday 30th May. The RTPI is now reviewing responses and agreeing ways forward. Any new information will be made available through this page.

The Continuum of Planning Education

The RTPI believes that the highest quality education should be available to all professionals and technical officers at all stages of their careers, and that these educational stages should be linked to appropriate membership categories. In this paper the RTPI therefore proposes to extend accreditation to apply to technical qualifications and qualifications post-initial planning education, thereby developing what we term the education continuum, in order to build aspirations for learning in the profession. Read the consultation paper. Please note the consultation is now closed to responses.

The Future of Undergraduate Planning Education

Following the Education Commission there has been a strong emphasis on postgraduate initial planning education provision. It is therefore appropriate to revisit planning education provision through the undergraduate route, to which the RTPI remains committed and seeks to strengthen and revitalise. Read the consultation paper. Please note the consultation is now closed to responses.

Specialisms in planning education

Accredited planning education as delivered through the planning schools comprises both ‘spatial’ and ‘specialist’ elements, which then lead to the third key component of initial planning education, the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). This paper discusses what is meant by a ‘specialism’, and sets out the way in which the RTPI believes these should be delivered in accredited qualifications (consultation not yet launched).

Learning Outcomes for Planning Education

All accredited qualifications in initial planning education must be able to demonstrate that they educate students towards meeting a set of learning outcomes. The current learning outcomes are presented here, along with recommendations where appropriate to amend or revise these outcomes (consultation not yet launched).

There are no current consultations on this review, but for any questions please contact the Education Team.

Author:

Jacqui Ward

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

28-Apr-08

Categories:

Education 

Sections:

Education & Careers

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