Course Type: Postgraduate (taught)
Training Provider: University College London (UCL)
School/Institute/Dept./Centre: Development Planning Unit (DPU)

The course is strongly interdisciplinary, attracting participants from a wide variety of disciplines, including anthropologists, economists, geographers and natural scientists, as well as planners, architects and engineers. Since its inception in 1997, over 100 students have successfully completed the ESD course. Most ESD graduates follow one of two possible career paths. Some are engaged in various professional activities, from local and national government, consultancy firms and national and international NGOs, to United Nations programmes and international aid agencies the world over. Others pursue an academic career, either through doctoral studies or through teaching and research in a number of prestigious universities.

Examples of organisations where ESD graduates are currently working include: Ministry of the Environment (Brazil), Development Alternatives (India), Waste Management System (Costa Rica), World Bank, British High Commission (Ghana), Friends of the Earth (Japan), London Environment Council (UK) and University of Coimbra (Portugal).

Introduction

It is now increasingly recognised that environmental concerns are closely linked to the way development theory and practice are conceived and applied. In this context, the concept of sustainable development (SD) has rapidly emerged as an approach similarly advocated and criticised by local and international organisations, broadly described as an envisioning strategy to save the earth for future generations.

A central concern of the course is to equip participants with a critical understanding of the SD debate and practice, unveiling the political, social and economic forces underlying environmental conflicts and exploring concrete approaches to address their causes. The course adopts an international comparative perspective, exploring the specific conditions for intervention in different contexts from all over the world.

Objectives of the course

The course looks at conventional approaches in development planning, and the environmental conflicts generated by them, with specific reference to the context of developing countries. It contrasts these approaches with the need for long-term environmental sustainability and social justice and examines concrete attempts to incorporate a deeper awareness of these goals into development policy making, planning and management.

By critically examining the theory and practice of environment and sustainable development at the international, national and urban levels in a variety of contexts, the course seeks to provide participants with an understanding of the processes generating social and environmental change and with the skills and abilities to respond to such changes. The course retains the DPU's long-standing preoccupation with planning for action. Its approach is critical, analytical and comparative so that it leads to discovery and exploration by participants.

Course structure

The course is structured so that 75% of the taught components of the course (90 credits) are devoted to the core subjects of the environment and sustainable development and 25% (30 credits) to an option from a range of modules on offer. The core course modules provide the theoretical and methodological components of the course while the specialist module allows students to examine different approaches and problems in accordance with their own particular interests.

The course consists of reading, essay writing, and individual and group project work, in the context of lectures, seminars, workshops, case study analysis, and field trips within the UK and abroad. Student performance is assessed through course work, examinations, and a dissertation report.

The dissertation report

In addition to the taught and fieldwork components, the course entails the preparation of an individual report (60 credits) on a topic selected by the student.

FORMER STUDENT REPORTS

• Has Child Participation Mainstreamed Children’s Needs to the Urban Environmental Planning and Management Process?
• Discourses as a pre-condition for violent environmental conflicts: Analysis of two case studies: the Israeli Green Patrol and the Indonesian New Order Regime.
• The Political and Institutional Context of Solid Waste Management in Portugal.
• Critique of the Slum Upgrading Programme in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
• Squatter, Bureaucrats, and Politicians: Conflict between Environment and Development in the Oemerli Watershed, Istanbul, Turkey.
• The Release of Genetically Modified Organisms: Exploring the Social Construction of Environmental Problems in the UK.
• A Critique of Community-based Sustainable Resource Management in a Transitional Environment: Land Management with Reference to the North Central Regions of Namibia.
• Foundations of the Social Perception of Water Problems in Jordan: Exploring the Social Constructionist Theory.
  

Core Modules

THE POLITICAL ECOLOGY OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE (BENVES01)

This module provides a comprehensive review of the contemporary debate on development and environmental sustainability and equips participants with a critical understanding of environmental conflicts, and of various approaches to environmental governance, the policy process, the mechanisms and the key agents involved.

The first part of this module is building up an in-depth understanding of the current and historical debates on development and environmental sustainability, and the assumptions deeply ingrained within Western development paradigms. It examines the politics and discourses on sustainable development, exploring their environmental implications for the countries of the North and South. A significant aspect is to place the environmental and sustainable debate into an international political economy perspective.

The second part is dedicated to the critical analysis of socio-environmental conflicts, their roots and potential approaches to their resolution, with specific reference to the Third World. It looks at the way in which environmental concerns are institutionalised in the policy process, contrasting the role, power and practices of different actors and institutions. Students explore and examine the assumptions, potentials and flaws of different approaches to the institutionalisation of environmental concerns through the application of a variety of policy instruments and institutional designs.

On completion students will:

• have a critical understanding of the assumptions ingrained within western development paradigms;
• be able to examine the environmental implications of these paradigms for the countries of North and South;
• have a critical understanding of the current debates on development and environmental sustainability;
• have a critical understanding of the field of political ecology and the articulation between environmentalism, political culture and social organization;
• be able to understand how environmental concerns are socially constructed and institutionalized in the policy process;
• have an understanding of various approaches to environmental governance, policy making and of environmental policy instruments.
  

URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT (BENVES02)

This module seeks to identify environmental problems in urban areas and their underlying causes and how to go about applying environmental planning and management to solve these problems to move towards sustainable development.

The first part of the module surveys urban environmental problems in an integrated way together with a wider view of the sustainability of urban development. It provides an understanding of a range of urban environmental problems at different levels and how they affect health and local ecosystems. Participants examine practical experiences in identifying environmental problems and their underlying causes at the local level, focusing on issues related to water supply, sanitation and garbage; environment and health and the social and spatial distribution of environmental risk among others.

The second part analyses the potentials and limitations of environmental planning and management (EPM) strategies and techniques to deal with environmental problems. It evaluates concrete experiences, exploring a range of tools and techniques available to steer urban EPM towards sustainability. It further focuses on the role of different stakeholders and institutions involved in defining and implementing Local Agenda 21.

On completion students will:

• have a comprehensive understanding of the range of environmental problems in cities and how they affect human health and local ecosystems;
• be able to develop approaches for the resolution of these problems within the broader political economy of urban regions and the societies within which they are placed;
• understand the current and potential role of community organizations, NGOs, governments and international agencies in addressing environmental problems in urban regions;
• be able to critically engage with the processes and procedures of environmental planning and management strategies and techniques.
  

ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PRACTICE (BENVES03)

This module creates an opportunity for students to be exposed to real life planned interventions mainly in the field of urban and regional EPM. At the same time it helps the participants to develop their analytical and evaluative capacity and strengthen their professional skills.

This is a composite module that runs over three terms. It consists of four principal elements as follows:

Themed workshops
These activities provide participants with an opportunity to apply ideas, skills and knowledge to "real-life" situations.

Case study evaluation
This exercise is structured around the implementation of urban EPM. Participants are asked to evaluate local planned interventions, allowing them to gather and process first hand information for their assessment.

Overseas field trip in the 3rd term
The overseas fieldtrip provides an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge, approaches and tools acquired during the course into a real context. The field visit, undertaken in recent years in North Africa, West Africa and Southern Europe, is preceded by individual and group preparation activities (including lectures, private reading of case material, group discussion and seminars), and followed by group discussions and presentations, and finally the production of a group report.

Series of skills development seminars
This seminar series runs throughout the first three terms and helps to build up participants’ academic and professional skills, including sessions on prospective career paths.

On completion students will:

• have acquired a methodology for diagnosis and strategy development in order to a address complex set of challenges;
• have built up essential academic and professional skills;
• have gained a better appreciation of the development contexts in both developed and developing countries by having been exposed to real life situations;
• be able to critically assess and respond to the planning approaches examined throughout the course.
  

Optional Modules

A number of 30-credit options are currently available to students enrolled in the ESD programme. These include:

URBAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
UED offers two specialist options. The first specialist option (BENVUE01) is designed to demonstrate the application of economic concepts and theories to urbanisation and urban development. It also examines the broad international and national contexts for these processes and the respective role of the key stakeholders. The second specialist option (BENVUE02) is designed to demonstrate the application of economic criteria to the management of the city economy. It examines the key components of the city economy, their internal and external dynamics and the related theoretical and practical issues. It also provides training in the analysis of structural changes in the city economy and in formulating and evaluating city development strategies.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE
Two modules can be chosen as options. The first option (BENVSD01) introduces social development and the social agenda with specific emphasis on understanding and planning for socially sensitive development through an examination of diversity, including gender; social inclusion; socially sensitive policy formulation, design of indicators and social impact assessment. The concept of participation as a way of ensuring socially sensitive development is critiqued and a number of participatory methodologies and tools, used at different stages of development interventions, are examined and practiced. Students undertake two practical assignments in London Boroughs; one as part of the ‘Tools in Action’ component and the other a more substantial piece of work undertaking a social impact assessment. The second option (BENVSD02) is a critique of key development paradigms; liberalism/neo-liberalism; Marxism; reformism and theories of underdevelopment. It specifically addresses the role that the various paradigms have assigned to government (state), market and civil society and how the key societal concerns of social justice, efficiency in the allocation of scarce resources, freedom and security are met (or not met). The theme of poverty, as a manifestation of inequalities at both the national and international levels, is developed. Causes of poverty, poverty assessment and governmental and donor anti-poverty policies are discussed, as well as the roles of civil society and the market.

DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING
Three of the DAP modules currently on offer may be chosen as options. The first option (BENVAP01) introduces basic notions of development management and administration, state, market and bureaucracy and the role of NGOs in the development process. It places national development in the context of the international division of labour and examines alternatives to hegemonic development practices. It critically reviews the recent history of international aid, particularly its implications for poverty reduction, growth and equity. The national dimensions of development are also critically explored, particularly in terms of a range of development trends and interventions such as national and regional development planning and key aspects of local, metropolitan and regional development.

In the second option (BENVAP02) the first part reviews the historical evolution of development theories and examines the relationship between theory and development policy in practice. The second part addresses the issues of rural social relations, food security, rural, urban and peri-urban land, agricultural production & distribution, and rural resource management that underlie any successful development strategy.

In the third option (BENVAP03) the first part reviews the historical evolution of development theories and examines the relationship between theory and development policy in practice. The second part provides a systematic analysis of the notions of industrialisation and infrastructure building as key elements in initiating and sustaining national, regional and local development.

BUILDING AND URBAN DESIGN FOR DEVELOPMENT
This option explores the form, formation and functioning of cities in order to gain an understanding of the shape, size and structure of cities especially in the context of developing countries. It traces the influence of historical, physical, natural and cultural aspects as well as that of economic and administrative forces on the origins and spatial development of cites. It reviews urban design theories and evaluates their ability to explain and understand cities. It develops an understanding of the workings of cities, showing how the various aspects interact in multiple and complex ways to provide the underlying structure and form of urban areas. It also explores how areas of cities can be transformed and regenerated, revitalised, upgraded and/or conserved, as may be appropriate. It develops a model for responsive intervention and approaches to the development of participatory dialogue and discussion to identify stakeholder positions. The possibilities and potentials of the local area are assessed and evaluated through the use of tools of rapid urban analysis. These are brought together and used to develop win-win strategies that maximise the opportunity of each stakeholder to meet their objectives through multi-objective strategies.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
Three of the UDP modules currently on offer can be chosen as options. The first option (BENVUP01) explores the economic, social and physical transformation and restructuring of cities in the wider context of development and globalisation. In assessing the challenges this poses for urban development planning, the roles and relations of actors in civil society, the public and private sectors are examined in theory and practice. The institutional and organisation frameworks in which they operate are reviewed, while investigating access to and control over financial, human and physical resources in the context of contemporary urban development planning practice.

The second option (BENVUP02) explores strategic action in urban development policy, planning and management which recognizes social justice in cities. In this light, it reviews the evolution of urban development interventions and define the theoretical and methodological challenges which face contemporary urban development in different parts of the world. To this end, it also assesses a range of cases of urban development practice, drawing out their contribution to the current debates on strategic action towards social justice in urban development policy, planning and management. Finally, it explores the implications of these debates for problem diagnosis, participation, organizational development and ‘public learning’ in strategic urban action.

A third option (BENVUP04) examines gender relations in the socio-economic, political and environmental processes in the development of human settlements. In doing so, it highlights the intersection of gender with other social relations, examining diversity and difference in human settlements. In assessing the challenge this poses for urban development planning, the institutionalisation of gender equality in policy, planning and management of human settlements are explored. Gender relations in a range of development sectors are assessed and the conditions for gender mainstreaming in these sectors discussed.

COSMOPOLITAN DEVELOPMENT
There is currently one module on offer under this option. The module blends theory with practice. It introduces the concepts and principles of cosmopolitan development in the contexts of collective cultural identities and intercultural relations of conflict and co-existence, globalisation and civilisational responses in different world regions. It presents the principles of cosmopolitan development as a basis for planning in both multicultural and culturally divided cities and, with the aid of a planning manual and mini-research projects, traces through the methodology of reconnaissance, analysis and diagnostics leading to policy, programme and project formulation to promote cultural co-existence and conflict management in urban settings.

Learning Outcomes

The ESD Course provides participants with the following:

Knowledge And Understanding Of:

• the contemporary debate on development and environmental sustainability;
• the complexity and variety of environmental problems in urban regions, their underlying causes and subsequent impacts;
• the potentials and limitations of environmental planning and management;
• how to respond to processes that generate social and environmental change;
• how to develop strategies to steer urban environmental planning towards sustainability.
  

Intellectual Skills:

The programme aims to help students:

• to develop analytical and critical skills in contrasting the role, power and practices of different stakeholders in the policy process dealing with environmental concerns;
• to critically assess current EPM tools and techniques;
• to refer to and analyse case studies;
• to develop strategic proposals that incorporate environmental concerns into social, economic and political processes;
• to learn by doing.
  

Practical Skills:

The programme helps students:

• to prepare well-supported and critical (written and oral) analyses of theory and empirical evidence;
• to formulate proposals aimed at dealing with the complexity of a range of development situations;
• to formulate a conceptual framework and use a range of information sources in research;
• work in a multi-disciplinary team;
• to elaborate and communicate proposals, evaluations and strategies;
• to operate professionally and sensitively in different environments.
  

Transferable Skills:

The programme encourages students to:

• write well-argued essays and reports;
• use computer resources and information technology;
• listen and contribute to group discussions;
• challenge conventional wisdom; 
• reflect on their own ideas by becoming more acquainted with unfamiliar initiatives and arguments;
• live and work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural environment;
• critically assess evidence for themselves through independent judgement;
• develop negotiation skills;
• improve time management and develop self-discipline.
  

The variety of teaching/learning methods and strategies through which the skills will be achieved, and how the different elements of the course are assessed, is explained below.

Teaching/Learning Methods And Strategies:

• Seminars, lectures and work in small teams (both inside and outside the classroom);
• Individual reading and research;
• Integrative 2-3 day workshops;
• Visits to specific London sites and projects;
• Subject-specific academic skills sessions;
• Overseas fieldtrip to a developing country and subsequent presentation and report.
  

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a variety of methods: unseen examinations, individual essays (typically 1,000 to 3,000 words in length), course work, team work reports, oral presentations and a 10,000 word final report.

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Staff:
Adriana Allen DipArch MSc (Course Director)
Urban development planner specialising in environmental planning and management (EPM), environmental governance and urban and regional political ecology studies. Over fifteen years of training, research and consultancy assignments in national and international organisations, including the Department for International Development (DFID/UK), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), European Commission (EC) and Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIC, Belgium), and in-country including, India, Egypt and various countries in Latin America and Europe. She is also a Visiting Professor at various universities in Latin America.

Robert Biel BA MA PhD
Political scientist, specialising in international political economy and issues of globalisation. Has lectured at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and at Birkbeck College in the University of London. He is the co-founder of the Centre for Research in Economic and Social Trends (CREST) and author of The New Imperialism, Zed Books, London, 2000.

Edesio Fernandes BSc PhD
Lawyer and urban planner specialising in environmental policy and management extensive research experience in South Africa and Latin America. He is currently the Director of the National Programme to Support Sustainable Land Regularisation in the Ministry of Cities in Brazil.

Pascale Hofmann Dip LPlan MSc
Development planner specialising in environmental planning in urban areas. She formerly worked for Groundwork (UK environmental charity) on local, regional and international projects for sustainable development with broad community participation. Her experience also includes working in several landscape planning studios in Germany.

David Satterthwaite PhD
Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and editor of the journal Environment and Urbanization. With a Doctorate in social policy, he has worked in urban research in Africa, Asia and Latin America. He was a member of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change 1999-2002 and is currently a member of the Millennium Project's Taskforce on Improving the Lives of Slum Dwellers.

Entry Requirements:
Candidates should have a first degree, awarded by a university or polytechnic, approved by the University of London. Candidates who lack the required qualifications but have other relevant educational or professional experience may be considered in exceptional circumstances. Proficiency in English is essential for the course. University College London requirements are IELTS: 6.5 (with a score no lower than 6.0 in any of the sub-tests) or TOEFL: 237 plus score of 4 in essay writing (computerised test).

Course Duration:
The course commences in September each year and lasts for 12 calendar months. Students who cannot devote a whole year to full-time study may enrol part-time over a maximum of five years.

Language(s) of Instruction:

• English

Mode of Study:

• residential

Thematic Focus:

• Development Administration
• Development Economics
• Development Management
• Development Policy
• Development Studies
• Environmental Issues
• Governance
• Participatory Approaches
• Poverty Analysis
• Social Policy and Development
• Urban Studies and Planning
• :Other:

Country(ies):

• United Kingdom

Town(s) or City(ies):
London

Course's Webpage:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dpu/courses/esd.htm