Spatial Planning and Governance

Code:

MRCOT024

Acronym:

PGT

Instance: 2015/2016 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Geography
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Hazards, Cities and Spatial Planning

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MRCOT	17	MRCOT - Study Plan	1	-	6	4

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The learning objectives are:

1.To understand and explain the evolution of theories and processes of planning

2.To construct and further delve into a systemic and multi-tier structure of knowledge on building a city that promotes quality of life and well-being.

3.To understand and explain the evolution of governance models and participation processes.

4.To understand and apply current concepts and practices of planning, by establishing relations between cities, governance and interventions in the matter of planning.

5.To acquire and develop investigation, action and communication skills, strengthening conceptual learning and intervention capability, taking into account a context of uncertainty and change.

Learning outcomes and competences

The methodological option focused on exploration, debate and discovery contributes to a better learning of the current theories and concepts in Planning, Governance and urban quality of Cities (objective 1, 2 and 3). Ensuring availability of specific bibliography every week from an early stage and encouraging its reading and previous analysis facilitates learning and promotes class participation. For some debates an external specialist will be invited (mainly objective 4). This methodological strategy also has the virtue of stimulating class participation and debate (objective 5). Organizing a field excursion (one day, in multiple urban contexts) contributes to the fulfilment of the defined general objectives, generating readind and spatial analysis skills, as well as identifying strategic priorities and operation of a possible intervention (all objectives).

On the other hand, the application of active methods intends to enhance, simultaneously, conceptual comprehension, application as well as communication skills (objectives 4 and 5). A case study (Documental research on a city located off-region, national or international) and a group assignment are developed in pairs, aiming for the development of various skills, especially teamwork skill.

The intention of both case studies is to provide the analysis of different situations, to communicate and debate ideas, enhancing information collection, cartography and  interpretation, discussion and communication skills which allow further learning (objectives 4 and 5, especially). The choice of an international case is intentional, allowing comparative analysis between different territorial contexts to be performed, with different resources and issues (objective 2) and very heterogeneous planning and Governance practices (objectives 1 and 3). Additionally, by promoting contact with this type of strategic documentation for urban developing, knowledge is enhanced. The presentation of the assignments in pairs also develops oral communication and sharing skills (objective 5).

Developing a case study as a group assignment aims to develop urban analysis skills through the exploration of direct and indirect sources of information, from the statistical and cartographic organization and processing of data, as well as the application and operation of the acquired knowledge (all objectives). Writing a final report contributes to the development of written communication skills (objective 5). The test will assess the ability to reflect and sistematically apply the acquired knowledge throughout the semester (objective 5). For the participation component, class participation and group work will be evaluated.      

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. THEORY OF PLANNING

1.1 The Chicago School planning

1.2 Planning as a rational process

1.3 Planning, pragmatism and social theory

1.4 Collaborative and participative planning

1.5 Governance networks and complex system governance

1. CITIES AND GOVERNANCE

2.1 Quality of cities

2.2 Governance and participation

2.3 Quality of cities and good governance

1. PLANNING AND CITY GOVERNANCE

Case study:
3.1 Substance, processes and actors 
3.2 Systems in transformation      

Mandatory literature

Marques, Teresa Sá; Planos regionais de ordenamento do território
Ferrão, João; Ordenamento do Território Como Política Pública, Fundação Gulbenkian, 2011. ISBN: 9789723114157
Davoudi, Simin; Planning, governance and spatial strategy in Britain : an institutionalist analysis, Basingstoke [etc.] : Macmillan [etc.], 2000
Heale, Patsy ; Urban Complexity and Spatial Strategies: , The RTP, 2008

Complementary Bibliography

Davoudi, Simin; Planning as practice of knowing. Planning Theory, 14(3), 316-331., 2015

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes will proceed by integrating teaching/learning methodologies through exploration, debate and discovery (1) by active methods (2).

1)Exploration, debate and discovery – to stimulate an active role on the students, every week the students are encouraged to read specific bibliography, through which learning is stimulated. Class debate is alternated with moments of presentation, stimulating vertical as well as horizontal dialogue.

2)Active methods – composed by 2 components: a) presentation and discussion of an international case study (20% of evaluation); b) developing a group assignment on an urban scale, involving data collection and processing, developing a diagnosis, a strategy and an action plan, and finally a governance model. Students must write and present a report. (40% of the evaluation).

 In terms of individual assessment, is still considered the test and participation (30 + 10 = 40%).   

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	30,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	108,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Admission to Exams To successfully complete this course unit, students must maintain a minimum attendance of 75% and obtain no less than 10 out of 20 marks. For all students, whether student workers or not, absence in more than 25% of classes due to medical reasons, illness, work or other, can be compensated with an extra question in the final exam. Lack of participation in group work or the presentation can be replaced by an extra question in the written or oral exam (to be defined by the lecturer).

Calculation formula of final grade

1. In terms of collective evaluation:

a) presentation and discussion of an international case study (20% of the evaluation);
b) write and present a report (40% of the evaluation).

 2. In terms of individual assessment, is considered the test and participation (30 + 10 = 40%).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Please see ‘Admission to Exams’ above.