06 Feb 2007

University College Cork (UCC) launches Programme to Train Professional Planners

UCC, in an initiative involving a range of disciplines and departments, has launched a new programme to train professional planners.  Thirty Masters Students from a wide range of backgrounds, have commenced a two-year course of study, and are expected to graduate in summer 2008.

The initiative, known as the programme in Planning and Sustainable and Development, (MPlan) was formally launched  on 30 January 2007 by outgoing UCC President, Professor Gerard Wrixon.  Co-ordinated by a specially-recruited team of Professional Planners, the programme is anchored in the UCC departments of Geography, Applied Social Studies and Sociology.  

According to Professor Wrixon, the professional disciplines that engage in planning and sustainable development have "crucial roles to play in contemporary society". Echoing many of the sentiments expressed in the newspapers and in the media generally, he observed that "every commuter, shopper, householder or tenant, farmer, businessperson or activist has a planning tale to tell".   

At the launch of the Programme, Professor Wrixon addressed the concept of sustainability - which challenges us to hand our environment on to future generations in a healthy state. "This is an enormous challenge  - one that will test our scientific, political and intellectual skills to the utmost", he said.  Referring to the increasing complexity of planning and environmental issues throughout the country in recent years and the level of public interest in the topic, he also drew attention to particular sensitivity and understanding of Irish cultural and economic circumstances that UCC will bring to planning education.  Until now Irish planners have been trained in Dublin (UCD and DIT), Belfast (QUB) or abroad.

At the launch, Professor David Cox, Head of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences noted that the MPlan programme also addresses global challenges such as urbanisation and underdevelopment and the crucial role that new forms of planning practice will play in addressing this.  "The interdisciplinary nature of this new programme at UCC is particularly important", said Professor Cox. "It is a model of how the University adopts imaginative ways of bringing forward new forms of teaching and research to meet the needs of contemporary society."  

The Director of the new programme Mr Brendan O'Sullivan, outlined the many new planning concepts and ideas that have been developed in Cork over the years. "With innovative planning authorities, an active development  and investment sector, dedicated community and environmental organisations and a whole range of planning and environmental expertise, the Munster region is seen as an ideal laboratory in which to learn, research and to practise the art and  science of planning and sustainable development", he said.

Graduates of this Masters programme, who will receive an MPlan degree, will be qualified to work in City, County and Town Councils, private sector planning consultancies, the construction industry, international development, community organisations and various non-governmental sectors. The programme has commenced accreditation procedures with both the Irish Planning Institute and the Royal Town Planning Institute.  A new class of MPlan students will be recruited during the summer.

Further information is available from www.ucc.ie/en/CKE69/

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