REMP32-Cities, Regions and Strategic Governance

Module Provider: Real Estate and Planning
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Prof Kathy Pain
Email: kathy.pain@henley.reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module includes independent student research on a group work and an individual basis. During the module, students will study the ways in which the strategic planning and governance of cities and regions in England have developed. This will include studying the ways in which strategies have been restructured over time and in relation to changing local and global operating environments and contemporary sustainable development imperatives.  The module comprises two assessed elements - one group presentation, and one individual research paper. 

Aims:

The module prepares students for planning and development leadership roles. Students will gain understanding of the conceptual and practical challenges faced in applying the principles of strategic planning in dynamic global development and English governance contexts. The module develops academic, analytical, evaluative, research and communication skills, while encouraging independent learning. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to demonstrate: 

• A systematic and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the sustainable development challenges facing contemporary strategic, large-scale city and regional planning and governance, and the issues, constraints and problems that they face; 


• An ability to compare and critically assess and evaluate theoretical perspectives, debates, and conceptual frameworks relating to strategic planning and governance; 


• Originality in the application of knowledge and concepts relevant to strategic planning and governance, and an awareness of the challenges of creating and interpreting knowledge in this field; 


• An ability to identify through in-depth academic reading and independent research, emerging strategic planning and development policy priorities and issues relevant for practice. 

Additional outcomes:

Typically, on completion of the module, students should be equipped to: 

• approach complex issues and debates systematically and creatively, and make sound judgments in practical situations where the decision-making environment may be unpredictable and where complete data is absent; 


• articulate and communicate well-supported conclusions clearly and convincingly to academic, practitioner, professional and non-specialist audiences; 


• exercise self-directed initiative and personal responsibility in approaching complex tasks, problems and challenges in a professional, practical or equivalent capacity; 


• advance their knowledge, understanding and skills to a higher level through independent learning. 

Outline content:

Topics to be covered in the lecture and tutorial programme include: 

• Englsh cities and regions in a dynamic global context 


• The fluid space of English planning 


• The economics behind localism in England


• English city region planning challenges 


• Understanding functional urban areas 


• Planning functional urban areas 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		12
Project Supervision		6
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		50
Wider reading (directed)		50
Advance preparation for classes		2
Preparation for presentations		10
Group study tasks		10
Essay preparation		50
Reflection		10
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	75
Oral assessment and presentation	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Not applicable.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One group presentation of a maximum of 15 slides (indicative equivalent 3,000 words) in length, and one individual research paper of a maximum of 3,750 words in length, will be carried out. The group presentation and the individual research paper will be based on topics provided by the module convenor. The group presentation is weighted at 25% of the marks and will be submitted in term Week 6 (timetable week 25). The individual research paper is weighted at 75% of the marks and will be submitted in term Week 11 (timetable week 30). 

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

The pass-mark for this module is 50%.

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment will by an individual research paper of 5,000 words. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 22 September 2022