Spatial Planning with an Emphasis on Urban Design in China and Europe – (M.Sc.)

Professions dealing with town planning, city development and urban design are increasingly working on an international scene. Spatial planners, landscape architects and urbanists can participate in design projects on several continents simultaneously. The great design projects encompass people from various professions and different countries. Thus evolves a notion that experience and knowledge is no longer developed within a national context. A deeper inter-cultural understanding seems necessary. Professional work within the subjects of town planning, city development and urban design is increasingly complex and demands a multi-disciplinary attitude. Migration, move ability, integration issues and climate change are examples of the complex challenges posed. The joint Master’s programme at Blekinge Institute of Technology(BTH) och Nanjing Forestry University, College of Landscape Architecture (NJFU) strives to address the issues that meet a contemporary design profession. The education emanates from the design professions where focus is on action and intervention meeting an academic, critical analysis. The result of this interaction is tangible proposals for change of public space and common environment. During the courses practically oriented design tasks are intertwined with tutoring in studios or at a site. Lectures and seminars and are running in parallel with project work. Courses in the range of 3 to 15 European Credits are finalized with a diploma work of 30 EC. This is a combination of written background and design proposal.

Learning outcomes
In addition to national qualitative targets the following applies to the Programme. To be eligible for a master’s degree in urban design, the student shall demonstrate such knowledge and skills that are needed in order to work within the profession. Knowledge and understanding of the academic basis for urban design and informed knowledge of research and development, Deeper knowledge and understanding of urban design theory and the historical development of public space. Deeper knowledge and understanding of the relations between stakeholders influencing and involved in city development and town planning.

Skills and abilities for master’s degree in urban design the student shall demonstrate ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge from relevant subject areas in order to analyze, and assess and manage complex issues related to planning and design of public space. Demonstrate ability to develop appropriate planning proposals for public space, comprehensively and in detail, and be able to critically evaluate them.

Judgement and approach for master’s degree in urban design the student shall show insight into public and private interaction concerning town planning and urban development. Show ability to assess man’s relation to and use of the built environment from various aspects like scientific, social economical, aesthetical, environmental and ethical. Show insight into collaborative planning, citizen participation and social movements that influence city development and planning processes. Show ability to identify the need for further knowledge and concurrently inform herself/himself about emerging practices to develop competence.

Job Profiles
The Program will give you skills to use in work with complex planning and design tasks in collaboration with decision makers and citizens. You will learn to cooperate with various specialists within fields like engineering, environmental science, cultural science, architecture etc.The education is of particular interest for students who wish to work internationally.