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: 2023/4

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:

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:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

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: 30 March 2023