Handbook

Urban Policy and Strategy is a unique degree offered by the Faculty of Built Environment for professionals wishing to develop advanced skills in urban management. The program focuses on developing leaders in the field of urban policy. Work in this field is challenging and complex and requires a capacity not only to understand the range of issues confronting urban managers but also to understand how to use and interpret data, to prepare evidence based policy, and to understand core development finance feasibilities.

The program is structured in three themes: understanding the context of cities and regions and their management; the use of tools for policy assessment, development finance and data analysis; and the key issues faced during professional practice. The program covers the drivers of change and theories of cities; the key urban strategy challenges; decision making and policy administration; public and private development finance; policy instruments and their assessment; advanced research methods; and urban leadership, politics and ethics. The program includes three BE select electives which will facilitate a focus on specific urban policy issues.

The program is run over three semesters (Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Term). The program can be taken full-time or part-time. Courses in the program will be delivered in intensive teaching blocks in order to enable those working full-time and interstate to participate. Students can undertake a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or a full Masters degree.

The program will utilise a number of different teaching strategies including: studios, master classes, problem-based learning, case studies and field trips, consulting projects with clients, and evidence-based research. An international research studio is offered to Diploma and Masters students. Class sizes in the program will deliberately be small to allow students to engage in highly interactive classes with other students, researchers, professionals, adjunct faculty and teachers.

Program Objectives

At the end of the program students will:

• have a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice behind the development of urban policy and strategy
• have a comprehensive understanding of the key issues driving the management of cities, and be aware of the governance, politics and ethics of managing urban policy
• be able to analyse and present concisely the arguments around a policy problem, and understand how to manipulate data to extract the issues for this analysis
• have advanced skills in preparing and managing strategic planning processes
• have undertaken an overseas study project and a comparative research report on their return.