UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 03 JULY 2015
Birmingham City University’s School of the Built Environment and School of Law have partnered up to deliver a new Masters programme, covering both built and natural environments.
Starting in September 2015, the new postgraduate programme includes the only planning law course in the UK to be accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with a module delivered by Natural England, the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment.
Trudi Elliot, Chief Executive of RTPI, welcomes the new development: “Choosing a career in planning is smart at a time when it is in the top four subjects for graduate employment. The BCU course also opens up opportunities for a bursary from the RTPI future planners fund.”
Alister Scott, course director and Professor of Environment and Spatial Planning at Birmingham City University, added: “After 18 months of researching the market and consulting with practitioners from a wide range of planning positions, we are excited to have this new Masters course ready and accredited by the RTPI to suit those wanting rewarding careers in planning and planning law.
“The planning profession needs well-trained and adaptable graduates who are equipped to deal with complex, messy planning and the associated legal challenges that play out day-to-day across our UK built and natural environments.”
The course includes practice-based assessments and brings economic, social and environmental perspectives to life to tackle spatial planning challenges. Course pathways also foster awareness of European planning with an international field trip which students are able to shape to suit their career interests.
Emma Johnson, Natural England’s North Mercia Area Manager, commented: “The practice-based knowledge and expertise that Natural England can bring to this course will not only improve an understanding how we operate, but also equip students with policy and practice-relevant insights to become effective negotiators and collaborators of well-crafted development projects where the environment is valued as an asset, not just a constraint.”