Introduction to Urban Development and Planning

Course Code

PLAN810

Program or Programs for which course is part

Master in Real Estate (MRE) Executive Master in Real Estate (E-MRE) Master in Real Estate and Finance (MRE(Fin)) Executive Master in Real Estate and Finance (E-MRE(Fin)) Master in Real Estate and Finance (MRE (Fin)) Semester Abroad Master in Real Estate and International Business (MRE-Int.Bus) Master in Real Estate and Marketing (MRE-Mkt) Master in Real Estate and Project Management (MRE-PM)

Level (I, H, or M)

M

Number of Credits

This course carries a weight of 20 credits of the Homburg Academy, which is equal to 10 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System credits).

Learning Time This course requires approximately 200 hours of learning time. This includes all taught and supervised classes and all private study and research.

Stage (I or II, where applicable)

Stage I

Is this Course Core, Specialist or Elective

Core course for all programs listed

Courses that are pre-requisite or co-requisite

None

Name of Course Convenor

Dr Piotr Lorens

Position

Adjunct Professor

Email address

plorens@pg.gda.pl

Brief Course Summary This course will introduce students to concepts in urban development and planning, and explore a variety of issues in relation to investment in the transformation of urban areas. Students are encouraged to conceptualise development and planning in a wider context. A number of case studies are analysed, so that student can gain first hand insight into the myriad of factors that are considered in planning urban developments. This course begins with a Summer Institute at the Homburg Institute, at which students are introduced to the concepts, theories, and methods of analysis in the field of Urban Development. Students then work on projects, under supervision, which they choose from their local environment. It is hoped that the international composition of the Homburg student body will make for an interesting array of projects, which students will present to their peers.

Course Objectives The intended learning outcomes of this course are as follows:

1. Understand basic concepts of urban development and planning, including the terms of art,

theories, and methodologies associated with this field of study;

2. Appreciate the complexity of urban design and planning, including the constellation of social, historical, political, and ethical issues, including the financial ones;

3. Gain an understanding of the planning process;

4. Enable the student of real estate, whether aspiring to be a planner or real estate developer, with a

knowledge and insight of the policy context of planning and urban design;

5. Engage in an independent research project, under supervision. These specific learning outcomes contribute to achieving the learning outcomes of the relevant programs by demonstrating knowledge of the following (mapped to the Program Specification): A. Advanced knowledge and understanding of: 12.A.2: The highly inter-disciplinary nature of Real Estate as a subject of study, and be able to identify the special characteristics of each discipline as they relate to different practices in Real Estate; 12.A.3: The need for sustainable development and the means of gaining sustainability throughout the process of development from planning to design; 12.A.4: The general theoretical and conceptual frameworks in the field of real estate appraisal and how these are applied in the analysis of specific issues, exercising critical judgement and reason in each case;

12.A.5: How to carry out an independent research project and write in a scholarly manner demonstrating familiarity with academic conventions in the preparation of the student’s case study report. B. Intellectual skills: 12.B.1: Develop general research skills, especially bibliographic and computing skills in finding, selecting, and analysing materials for the independent project; 12.B.2: Learn to gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of secondary and some primary sources; 12.B.4: Learn to identify, investigate, analyse, formulate and advocate solutions to problems; 12.B.5: Develop problem solving skills, including the ability to identify and define problems, and to establish strategies for dealing with them including criteria for success, mapping optimum and alternative solutions, and exercising critical judgement to discriminate between the ranges of alternatives; 12.B.6: Synthesise relevant information and exercise critical judgement in the development of reasoned arguments; 12.B.7: Enable students to reflect upon and manage their own learning, and seek to make use of constructive feedback from staff and peers to enhance their performance and personal skills. C. Subject-Specific Skills 12.C.1: Understand the importance, role, and impact of property and the built environment in a wide range of facets of modern society; 12.C.2: Understand the development process as one that is inherently interdisciplinary, and draws, in different stages of the development process, or cycle in the business strategy, on different kinds of knowledge and understanding and different forms of subject specific skills; 12.C.3: Be able to discriminate between forms of knowledge and be able to draw selectively and appropriately on them; 12.C.4: Develop good understanding of the ethical issues in the Real Estate industry, including issues of sustainability, and environmental responsibility;

D. Transferable skills: 12.D.1: Develop autonomy in learning, work independently demonstrating initiative and self

organisation; 12.D.2:. Work co-operatively on group tasks, understand how groups function, collaborate with others and contribute effectively to the achievement of common goals; 12.D.3: Use communication and information technology for the retrieval and presentation of information, in the form of prose or numeracy as appropriate; 12.D.4: Develop communication skills, both orally and in writing. Communicate clear, succinct, analytical ideas; 12.D.5: Prepare and deliver oral presentations individually and as part of a group.

List of Lecture Topics

1. Introduction Planning 2. Critical Concepts in Urban Design 3. Issues in Case Study Selection 4. (In weeks 4-9 students work on their case studies under supervision) 10. Presentation of case study findings.

Learning and Teaching Methods Achievement of learning outcomes: the learning outcomes for this course are achieved through student participation in lectures (compulsory), in their active participation in seminars (compulsory), and in their fulfilment of the assessed elements (compulsory). This is a ten week course that is offered entirely online. In each week there is a lecture presentation for approximately one hour, plus an interactive seminar discussion for approximately one hour. Lecture presentations led by the course professor. The lectures are designed to introduce key theories, practices, and methods in real estate appraisal, and to guide students through an understanding of their rationale, their uses, and their limitations, so that students may both understand and reflect critically upon the techniques in the areas of urban development and planning. The lectures contribute to the achievement of learning outcomes by guiding students through the main theories, concepts, and debates in the scholarly literature, as well as the contested concepts and methods. Seminar Discussions are led by students under guidance of the course professor. The seminar is the opportunity for students to gain clarification of the lecture material and the reading materials. Also, through these guided discussions, it is intended that students will gain a comprehensive understanding by linking lectures, independent reading and class discussion, enabling students to apply concepts, theories, and methods to the practice of urban development and planning. Through dialogue, interaction, cooperation, and confrontation, students learn to formulate, structure, and defend their

perspectives. Independent Study: students are expected to read the stipulated text for each lecture and seminar session, as well as to read more widely in recommended texts for this course. Additionally, students are expected to conduct independent research for their contribution to seminar discussions, and for their research project. Learning outcomes for independent study are achieved through students’ own reading, research and preparation, seminar presentations, and in their research project.

Indicative Reading List Readings will be presented to students in class

Method of Assessment (and how the chosen method of assessment is related to learning outcomes) Students will be assessed on the basis of an unseen examination (20%), their individual research project (70%), and contributions to class discussions (participation) (10%). The unseen timed examinations provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to retain and call upon specific knowledge in response to targeted questions, under the time strictures that replicate life in the professional world. Examinations test the student’s ability to reflect upon issues quickly, and to use reasoned judgement in response to questions. The research project provides students with an opportunity to focus in depth on a case study in urban development and planning and to undertake a structured investigation, analysis and reasoned argumentation. This enables students to demonstrate acquired knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, display an ability to find organise and use information, and interpret this material in a creative fashion. Students will have the opportunity to bring to bear competing explanations and positions to a coherent argument that demonstrates their ability to reflect critically on their own work. Contributions to class discussions (participation) provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their preparation for class, through presentations designed to lead discussion and to engage debates and other issues in a scholarly manner.

Summary of Assessed Elements, and Percentage Weight of Each Element

Unseen timed examinations 20%

Research Project 70%

Class Participation 10%