The context for delivering planning education within the UK is changing fast, with a range of implications for the future of the profession and planning schools.
Key drivers include the Dearing agenda, research assessment, expansions in student numbers, increases in the number of degree awarding institutions, internationalisation, student fees and the evolving differentials in the higher education policies of the different devolved administrations within the UK.
At the same time, there have been major institutional reforms in planning and local government systems, an ongoing shift towards spatial planning, increasing society wide challenge to the way in which expertise and professionalism is perceived and a recognition of major skills shortages despite potential redundancies as the economy slows down.

Aims of the Project

The project will

• Establish a demographic profile (including age, gender, nationality and academic/professional background) of academic staff currently employed in RTPI-accredited planning schools in the UK.
• Identify key drivers of change in UK planning academia.
• Assess the implications of the profile and trends within the planning academy for future planning education.
• Explore the evolving links between planning academics and planning practitioners and the relationship between the number and type of planning academics and the output of planning graduates.
• Recommend to the RTPI how it could address any issues arising from the research.

Research Questions

The research will ask

• What is the perceived status of academia and of planning practice within academia?
• How has the profile of planning academics changed in the last ten years and what impact has this had, and will have, on the type and quality of teaching in UK planning schools?
• What are the key issues in staff recruitment and retention in UK planning schools?
• What issues can the RTPI influence as planning education continues to evolve?
• Has the increasing internationalisation of the academic and student communities had an impact on professional planning education in the UK?
• How are changing economic circumstances likely to influence planning education?
• What qualities and skills should planning academics have? Are these attributes currently reflected in recruitment and promotion procedures?

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Author:

research team

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

24-Sep-09

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