Planning Professionalization

Course goals

On completing this course, students can:

• Discuss their gained competencies and knowledge in spatial planning and relate them to labour market-oriented assignments;
• Critically reflect on their position as a spatial planner, academically among other disciplines, and as a planning practitioner in the field.

Content

Description of course content
The course ‘Planning professionalization’ is a 0 EC pass/fail module throughout the academic year. The purpose of this course is to facilitate the preparation of students for their future jobs as planning professionals. The emphasis of this course is on professionalization as a researcher and planner. To this end, this module supports the procedural aspects of the thesis and internship period and stimulates students' communicative performance as a planning professional. The main activities of this course consist of 1) participation in events organized by the Geosciences Career Services; 2) participation in the Return Days organized in the thesis semester; and 3) participation in peer-intervision sessions related to the MSc thesis. Besides, this module functions in an administrative sense as a platform for support and/or mediation for internships related to the MSc thesis research.

Pedagogy – assignments and assessment
Students are expected to work independently in this course. At the start of the academic year, a broad overview of activities and events is communicated as part of the activities organized by the Geosciences Career Services. Students can select at least 2 activities to participate in that they deem important for their learning progress and professionalization. In the second semester, several Return Days are mandatory for the students to attend and actively contribute to (i.e., through a presentation of their thesis progress during the mini-symposium). Finally, peer-intervision sessions are organized regularly (a total of ~7-8 meetings during P3 and P4). Students are expected to attend at least 75% of these meetings (i.e., a minimum of 6). The course coordinator monitors the participation of students and finally approves this course in Osiris with a ‘pass’ when a student meets all requirements.