About the Department
The Department of Town and Regional Planning is one of the 16 Departments within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at University of Johannesburg. The department forms part of the cluster of School of Civil Engineering and the Built Environment located in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The department is one of the 11 planning institutions of South Africa offering programmes in town and regional planning. The University of Johannesburg is a member of the Association of African Planning Schools (AAPS) consisting of 35 planning institutions of Africa. The department is uniquely positioned for the benefit of students with its staff having multidisciplinary planning expertise both at national and international level in terms of planning qualifications, project and research experience, and professional memberships / international linkages.
The department offers programmes in National Diploma and B.Tech in Town and Regional Planning. The National Diploma in Town and Regional Planning was first offered by the erstwhile Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) in 1989. The first intake of students for the National Diploma Town and Regional Planning was in 1989, with the first Diplomats graduating in 1991. The B.Tech Town and Regional Planning had its first intake of students in 1996 with the first Graduates graduating in 1998. With the merger of the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) and Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR) the Department became part of the University of Johannesburg in 2005. For the year 2011, the department has strength of around 300 students at National Diploma level and more than 60 students at B.Tech level.
The students at National Diploma have a unique advantage to undertake practical training of 11 months during their 2nd year of the programme with various planning consulting organizations, municipalities, and other planning agencies. The unique practical exposure brings further opportunities to students to integrate the practical skills along with the academic programme in learning. Both the programmes offered by the department: National Diploma and B.Tech in Town and Regional Planning are accredited by South African Council for Planners (SACPLAN). The department is in the process of introducing Masters programme in various streams / specializations of Town and Regional Planning, Short Learning Porgramme / e-Learning / CPD programmes as per the industry requirements. After the successful completion of National Diploma and B.Tech programmes, candidates can register with SACPLAN under various membership routes based on their qualification and experience.
About the Profession
-
The field of Town and Regional Planning covers land-use planning, urban design, transport and infrastructure planning, use and extension of information technology, heritage and conservation, resource management, environmental monitoring, commercial and industrial development, policy-making and implementation, as well as planning law and practice.
-
Town and Regional Planners plan and develop the infrastructure of towns and cities and are therefore key players as South Africa works towards improving spatial and social imbalances in urban and rural areas across the country.
-
Town and Regional Planners help communities, companies and governments to integrate the environmental, economic and social aspects of development.
-
They are involved with land-use, working in a professional team to plan, design, implement and manage development.
-
Town and Regional Planners must consider all economic, sociological, geological, architectural, industrial and geographical factors to bring about efficient functioning of a town or region.
-
Town and Regional Planning technicians and technologists are required in the private and public sectors. Graduates can seek employment with national, regional and local authorities as well as with consultants and developers.