URBPLAN 321 : Urban Policy Analysis, Development and Research Skills

Creative Arts and Industries

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical understanding of the role public policy plays in practice and how to develop effective, creative outcome-focused policy solutions for urban planning through the application of quantitative and qualitative research skills and methods.

Course Overview

This course aims to familiarise the students with several techniques, skills and tools in urban planning, urban policy-making and analysis to address the problems and questions encountered in urban planning and policy-making contexts.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: URBPLAN 221-223, 225, 226 or 30 points passed in Global Environment and Sustainable Development Restriction: URBPLAN 301

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop Develop an understanding of the necessity of plans and policies to address contemporary urban problems (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  2. Generate Generate an in-depth understanding of different spatial level policies including national, regional, urban, and neighbourhood policies and plans, and their crucial interconnections to address the contemporary urban issues. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 2.2, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.3 and 8.2)
  3. Familiarise Familiarise • Familiarise students with evidence-based planning and policy-making, including quantitative and qualitative research methods, and a practical understanding of the appropriate use of data and evidence. (Capability 1.3, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.2, 8.2 and 8.3)
  4. Introduce Introduce students with evaluation tools as well as critical skills to investigate plans and policies (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Class tasks/Quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Assignment1 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Assignment2 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Class tasks/Quizzes
Assignment1
Assignment2
Students are strongly encouraged to submit all course assessments. If a student does not submit any assessment labeled as “compulsory course work”, they will receive an overall course grade of DNC and be unable to pass the course. (Please check the additional course outline at the beginning of the semester).  

- Extensions for assessed coursework will only be considered if you can demonstrate that it is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control. You must contact me as soon as possible before the assessment is due. Last-minute time management requests for extensions will not be considered, particularly during weekends.

-  Please check your files before submitting your tasks and the assignment if you submit a corrupted file. It will be considered as no submission (did not complete- DNC).  

Teaching & Learning Methods

Lecture and Lab-based teaching 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours on individual work. 

For this course, you can expect 33 hours of lectures, 77 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 40 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

You will have access to the reading list via Talis. 

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Other Information

The standard office hours at the University of Auckland are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm. I do not attend student emails outside office hours, including public holidays. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 30/10/2023 04:54 p.m.