Excellence in Planning Education

Cardiff School of City and Regional Planning impressed the judges with their commitment to developing cross disciplinary linkages, innovative teaching techniques and reflective learning which was illustrated in their course on 'Sustainability in Practice'. In this module students are challenged to consider the realities of achieving sustainable development by recording and reflecting on their own lifestyle choices and calculating their carbon footprints at the start and end of the course. Focus groups and trips to demonstration projects bring the learning experience alive.

Employer/practitioner award for commitment to lifelong learning and professional development

There are two winners in this year's award in the employer/practitioner category. 

1. The Planning Inspectorate can be congratulated once again for demonstrating that it has a lifelong learning and professional development system of exceptional standard. This provides the highest standard of comprehensive and flexible support to staff, with consideration given to creative, efficient and economic ways of meeting a wide variety of training needs. A good example of the flexibility is the bite sized seminars available to admin staff. The programme is systematic and clearly well embedded in the culture of the Inspectorate. It provides timely, in-depth, achievable and relevant training with realistic but stretching learning objectives set for many different categories of need. It recognises achievement and creates champions in training needs areas. A strong feature is the management and leadership development programmes which address generic professional skills in the context of the planning environment and organisational requirements.
2. The entry from Mid Sussex District Council (Planning Services) demonstrates an exceptional level of commitment to education and training, particularly in the organisation's efforts to develop 'home-grown' professionals. It has made full use of the District Council's supportive CPD culture, including the innovative 'Talent Book', which identifies and promotes potential talent with a view to fast tracking and strategic gap-filling. Although the organisation is much smaller than the Inspectorate, the judges felt that in the current recruitment climate, Mid Sussex should be rewarded for offering an outstanding example of the partnership that can and should be forged between individuals, planning department, the employing local authority and training agencies.

Student award for outstanding achievement in planning education

Winner: Kathryn Gilchrist 

The student entries were varied and difficult to compare but Kathryn’s entry demonstrated a clear understanding of spatial planning at a broad level and in respect of some particularly interesting specific planning challenges. She submitted two very sophisticated review essays of the highest standard. In particular, in 'Are we getting our priorities right? - sustainability implications of road space reallocation for public transport', she succinctly reviews and evaluates major policy innovations. Her narrative goes beyond a text book approach or secondary review and offers many challenging and thought-provoking insights that demonstrate a thorough understanding of the underlying issues. Her papers are clear and well communicated and make good use of appropriate practical examples.

Professor Chris Webster, Cardiff University

Nicola Bond, HCA Academy

Dr. Jenny Poxon, Sheffield City Region

NOTE: Chris Webster declared an interest in the Cardiff University entry and was not involved in  the judging process

Author:

Judy Woollett

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

03-Feb-10

Categories:

 

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