Department of Urban and Regional Planning
News and Announcements
Tshianeo Ndou benefits from JRS Biodiversity Foundation Grant
Contact Details
Tel: +27 15 962 8511
Email: odiyo@univen.ac.za
Office: New Environmental Science Building, Room FE-01
Head of Department
Dr J Chakwizira
Phone: +27 15 962 8585
Email: james.chakwizira@univen.ac.za
About Us
The restructured courses at the Department focus on a theoretical understanding of urban, regional and rural planning, practical and technical links with both urban and metropolitan areas, the immediate countryside and small town environments as the laboratories for study and studio exercises. The Department also maintains links with active professional planners in both public and private sectors through the regional chapter of the South African Planning Institute (SAPI). The Department aligns teaching and learning based on the recommendations emanating from SAPI, SACPLAN and Department of Rural development in terms of the Planning Professional act 36 of 2002.
Vision
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) focused on teaching and future to its initiatives towards addressing the issues of planning in a predominantly rural setting, the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces.
The Department devises planning with a bias to rural/countryside planning as opposed to its generalist coverage of planning as a discipline. We believe that the department would best approach this paradigm shift through research centred on the catchment area. i.e. the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa.
We foresee the evolution of a Development Planning Consultancy Wing tied in with the overall interests of the School of Environmental Sciences (through the Environmental assessment and advisory Unit) and the university at large.
Mission
The department offers problem-orientated. Project designed programme which are designed to provide students who wish to pursue career in the built environment with specific focus on urban and regional planning. Students are exposed to physical, economic, social and political forces that shape urban and rural communities.
The programme explores the role of communities, local and national governments as well as the activities of no-governmental and international agencies in the process of development and land use and the impact of these on sustainable use of resources and the environment. The ultimate goal of the programme is to forge functional and intellectual linkage between theory and practice (knowledge and skills) at all levels of planning education.
Programmes
BURP (Bachelor of Urban and Regional planning). This is a four year full-time professional planning programme.
M.URP (master Urban and regional planning) a two year full time professional degree programme for graduates of environmental sciences, the built environment, economic and management sciences, social and behavioural sciences, and other relevant disciplines or equivalent training.
Ph D: a program of minimum duration of three years
Certificate and Diploma or Postgraduate diploma/certificates
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
BACHELOR OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING:
Matric passes at symbol E (HG) or D= 50% (SG) or 50% pass in NSC in Mathematics and Physical science, 60 in English and four of the following matric subjects at symbol D=50%(HG) or C=60% pass in NSC in: Accounting; Agricultural Sciences; Biology or Life Sciences; Economics; Geography; or Technical Drawing and a pass of 60%in Home Language and Life Orientation.
Expected Outcomes
The detailed modules and expected competencies are an outcome of inputs from guidelines for the Planning profession by the South African Council of Planners (SACPLAN)
The following critical skills are embedded and underpin all the critical outcomes:
- Problem definition, gathering information and proffering alternatives and collaborative problem solving.
- Written, oral and graphic communications.
- Understanding strategic and synoptic dimensions and the interconnections between different facets of planning.
- Aesthetic dimensions and design awareness.
- The use of information technology (CAD, GIS and the use of the Internet among others).
Furthermore, that the knowledge of a planner must encompass a sound theoretical and applied base of the following areas:
- The nature, purpose and method of planning.
- The environment and development.
- The political and institutional context of planning.
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning has taken into consideration and adopted the above SACPLAN discussion guidelines in the new course modules presented in the following pages.
Modules
Year 1 | Year 2 | ||
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
URP 1541
URP 1540 (STUDIO) ERM 1541 |
URP 1641
MAT 1649 URP 1640 (STUDIO 2) ERM 1641 |
URP 2542
URP 2543 URP 2544 ERM 2541 |
URP 2641
URP 2643 URP 2644 URP 2645 ERM 2641 |
ECS 1541 | ECS 1646 | ||
ANY 2 OF:
GEO 1520 SOC 1541 PAD 1541 ECO 1541 |
ANY 2:
GEO 1620 SOC 1541 PAD 1641 ECO 1641 |
ANY 1 OF:
ECO 2541 PAD 2541 SOC 2541 GEO 2541 |
ANY 1 OF:
ECO 2641 PAD 2641 SOC 2641 GEO 2641 |
TOTAL 13 MODULES | TOTAL: 11 MODULES | ||
Year 3 | Year 4 | ||
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
URP 3544
URP 3545 URP 3546 URP 3548 |
URP 3644
URP 3645 URP 3646 URP 3647 URP 3648 |
URP 4740
URP 4541 URP 4542 URP 4544 |
URP 4644
URP 4648 |
CHOOSE 1 | CHOOSE 1 | CHOOSE 1 | CHOOSE 1 |
ERM 3541 | ERM 3641 | URP 4543
URP 4545 URP 4546 |
URP 4641
URP 4642 URP 4647 |
TOTAL: 09 MODULES | TOTAL: 08 MODULES |
Short Courses
COURSE TITLE | COURSE LEADER | DURATION |
Basic Spatial Planning and Land Use Management
|
Prof Bikam and Mrs Akola | 5-day period |
Research Methodology (and Report Writing)
|
Mr Gondo and Dr Ingwani | 5-day period |
Integrated Development Planning for Local Government
|
Mr Makumule and Prof Bikam | 5-day period
|
Project Planning and Management
|
Dr Ingwani and Mr Makumule | 5-day period |
Rural Development Planning | Mrs Akola |
5-day period
|
Integrated land use transport planning
|
Dr James Chakwizira | 5-day period |
Staff
Name: Mrs Juliet Akola
Designation: Lecturer
Name: Ms Shylet Anesu Nyamwanza
Designation: Teaching Assistant - Urban And Regional
Name: Dr. Emmaculate Ingwani
Designation: Lecturer In Urban & Regional Planning
Name: Dr James Chakwizira
Designation: Senior/Lecturer In Urban And Region Plan
Name: Mr Tendayi Gondo
Designation: Senior Lecturer In Land Sur, Remote & Pl
Name: Mrs Azwidowi Mashangu
Designation: Typist Grade I / Clerk Grade Ii
Name: Mr Fulufhedzani Victor Mushiana
Designation: Senior Technologist
Name: Prof Peter Bitta Bikam
Designation: Prof/Associate/Senior Lecturer
Name: Prof Godfrey Anyumba
Designation: P/Time Lect In Urban And Regional Planni
Name: Mr Tilfred Vongane Mabuza
Designation: P/Time Lect In Urban And Regional Planni
Name: Mr Thiathu Darryl Manenzhe
Designation: P/Time Lect In Urban And Regional Planni
Name: Mr Masala Thomas Makumule
Designation: P/Time Lect In Urban And Regional Planni
Name: Mr Maphari Christopher Mudau
Designation: P/Time Lect In Urban And Regional Planni
Name: Miss Sedzani Gracious Tshikunde
Designation: Junior Laboratory Techinician