An approach towards skills transfer of urban and regional planning practices and principles for related professions within the built environment

Abstract

Urban and regional planning responsibilities have been assumed by newly established and existing local municipalities. Of these municipalities, many do not have the financial means to employ full-time urban and regional planners to manage these responsibilities. A programme was developed in an attempt to cater for and recognise the need for capacity building in physical development planning at all levels, including all local, district and national authorities. It is proposed to equip the relevant persons with a user-friendly and comprehensive user guideline in order to guide them in understanding their role in Urban and Regional Planning. This dissertation includes a comprehensive literature review with references made to existing policy and legislative frameworks, skills transfer and capacity building and a brief analysis of the professions included in the built environment. It further evaluates the proposed programme through conducting a needs assessment. This includes a review of existing qualifications presented at tertiary institutions in South Africa and the results from both quantitative and qualitative data collected from two surveys, circulated to professionals in the built environment and urban and regional planners. The dissertation uses outcomes-based evaluation which further includes an evaluability assessment, through the use of a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and balanced scorecard, as well as programme monitoring, through the use of a logic model. The resulting recommendations will provide an approach to skills transfer applicable to the professions included in the built environment.