Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Students must have a bachelor degree in surveying, planning and land management or urban, energy and environmental planning or geography or programmes with similar content.

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The main focus of the project module is on managing and facilitating urban and/or rural spatial development, land use and planning in a societal context and on levels above the individual property. The project must identify and analyse a specific spatial development challenge in an urban or rural context, and must be able to develop this into a specific land use policy or planning challenge. The project analyses relevant political, legal and administrative frameworks and practices, including relevant norms, interests, actors, regulations, organisational settings, procedures and processes related to the chosen challenge. If relevant, aspects of land economics and/or e-governance can also be included. Finally, the project discusses, critically relates to and concludes the implications of the analysis. The project can propose specific changes and solutions to relevant policies, plans and/or settings, procedures and processes. The overall aim of the project is to provide the students with abilities to advice, manage, facilitate and develop land use and spatial policy, planning and management processes.

Having carried out the project module, the students

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• must have knowledge and understanding of relevant theories and practices concerning the framework conditions, organisation and processes of spatial development, policy, planning, management and governance – with respect to the chosen challenge.
• must have knowledge of different norms and interests related to the specific activities of spatial policy, planning and governance associated with the chosen challenge, e.g. norms of democracy, participation, efficiency and economic, socio-cultural and environmental sustainability.
• must have knowledge of the integration of e-governance and spatial data infrastructures in spatial policy, planning and land management if this is particularly relevant for the chosen challenge.
• must have knowledge of and be able to critically relate to practical and scientific challenges concerning policy-making, planning, management, facilitation, administration and implementation of spatial development and land use – to the extent that it is relevant for the chosen challenge.

Skills

• must be able to identify and analyse a specific urban and/or rural spatial development challenge, and must be able to relate and develop this into a specific spatial policy, planning or governance challenge.
• must be able to apply theories and methods of relevance to the chosen challenge. Must be able to argue the design and general methods of the project in relation to scientific methodology.
• must be able to analyse and critically assess relevant interests, actors, legislation, organisational settings, procedures and processes related to the chosen challenge, e.g. in relation to different societal norms, such as sustainability and democracy. Must be able to identify conflicting or mutually reinforcing aspects.
• must be able to conclude and discuss the theoretical and/or practical implications of the analysis and assessments performed in the project. Must be able, if relevant, to propose specific changes and solutions to relevant policies, plans and/or organisational settings, procedures and processes related to the chosen challenge.

Competences

• must be able to advice, manage, facilitate and develop policy-making, planning and administrative settings, procedures and processes concerning spatial development and land use.
• must be able to structure and combine theoretical discussions with practical challenges throughout the project work and its result (the project report).
• must be able to independently initiate and carry out tasks of planning, management and administration in interdisciplinary cooperation, and must be able to take on professional responsibility.

Type of instruction

Problem-oriented project work in groups. Workshops, seminars, assignments and/or mini projects that supplements the project work.

Exam

Exams

Name of exam	Spatial Development and Planning
Type of exam	Oral exam based on a project
ECTS	20
Permitted aids
Assessment	7-point grading scale
Type of grading	External examination
Criteria of assessment	The criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures