The Future of the Planning Academy Report was commissioned by the RTPI from a team led by Geraint Ellis of Queens University Belfast. It profiles planning education in the UK and is an important contribution to the development of professional planning education and monitoring.
Based on in-depth surveys, interviews and focus groups in late 2009/early 2010, the report paints a portrait of a diverse sector with a sustainable age profile and international outlook. It emphasises that changes over the last 10 – 15 years have been transforming the relationship between the academy and other parts of the profession.
There are now more students and more accredited planning courses than at any other time in the history of planning education. The marked increase in the quantity and quality of research outputs from planning schools points to increased scope to more fully exploit research processes and outputs in effective practice. The UK funding councils’ new emphasis on the impact of research is expected to be an important stimulus for more cooperative work in knowledge development and dissemination.
There is serious concern that the current and proposed cuts in higher education funding will sharply reverse these positive trends. The RTPI has welcomed the report and is keen to follow up on its findings and recommendations in continuing the RTPI’s work of supporting and developing planning education and the profession as a whole.
Executive Summary
Future of the Planning Academy Executive Summary (pdf, 70KB)
Full Final Report
Future of the Planning Academy Final Report (pdf, 2.2MB)
Background Scoping Report
For the background to the project see the scoping report.
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