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

Introduction

Urbanisation is transforming the development agenda. Within the next two decades, more people will be living in urban areas than in the countryside in nearly every country of the world. Cities are much more than a habitat, though. They are the most vibrant parts of the national economy, acting as the engines of economic development and pioneers for social changes. Unfortunately, however, many cities fail to perform satisfactorily. Urban poverty is increasing at a significantly higher rate than that in rural areas.

Meanwhile there is a severe shortage of professionally trained people who are equipped to deal with problems arising from urbanisation, and to effectively manage the city economy and promote sustainable development. This course is designed to train and supply such people.

Objectives of the course

The course aims to provide a critical understanding of the economics governing urban development and the contexts within which the city economy operates. It also offers an overview of the key policy and institutional issues, as well as regional and global factors that affect the performance of the city economy. Above all, it sets out to train people in dealing with the economic problems of accelerated urbanisation and the challenge of managing the city economy more effectively. Its central concern is to identify methods of enhancing urban productivity and mechanisms of promoting sustainability and equity at the city level. The course also provides training in the critical assessment and use of micro- and macro-economic data, in the analysis of urban economic activity and in the application of economic criteria to urban development.

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 economics in urban development and managing the city economy; 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 optional modules allow students to examine different approaches and issues in accordance with their own particular interests.

The course involves fieldwork abroad (undertaken in recent years in Barcelona, Spain; Cairo Egypt; and Accra, Ghana), as well as in UK, that allows students to put into practice some of the tools and techniques acquired during the course. In addition to the taught and fieldwork components, the course entails the preparation of an individual dissertation report during the summer, on a topic selected by the student. The course consists of reading, essay writing and individual and group project work, in the context of lectures, seminars, workshops, case studies and field trips. Student performance is assessed through course work, examinations, and the dissertation report.

Core Modules

Urban Development and Economics
This module aims to introduce the key concepts and theories of economics, as applied to problem diagnosis and policy making in urban development.

It covers the following topics: prospect for development; economic growth and development ; the market economy and market forces; International trade and investment ; role of the state in economic development; trends in urbanisation and the effects of policies; migration; urban agglomeration economies and diseconomies, cities and structural adjustment; roles of multilateral development agencies and foreign aid; role of economic analysis in urban development; development intervention; measuring causes and effects; project attributes and project financing; project cycle and the public sector’s involvement ; investment appraisal and project selection; cost-benefit analysis and cost effectiveness analysis; valuing external effects of investments; monitoring and evaluation of policies and projects; issues in the management of projects and programmes.

On completion students will:

• Be able to understand and apply the key concepts of economic; growth and development, urbanization, agglomeration economies and diseconomies, and their relations;
• Have been introduced to the contemporary contexts (both international, regional and national) of urban development;
• Have been introduced to the method of economic analysis, appraisal and evaluation;
• Be able to undertake cost-benefit analysis and effectiveness analysis;
• Have been introduced to principal types and issues of development intervention in the urban sector.

Managing the Economy
This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.

This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.

This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.This module aims to enable the participants to develop a critical understanding of the key components and operating dynamics of the city economy, and the factors that underlie urban productivity. It also provides a global overview of a range of policy measures applied to the city economy and the lessons learnt. Finally, it attempts to develop the participants’ skills of developing and formulating a city development strategy.

It covers the following topics: introduction to the city economy; the central business district and international financial centers; urban industry and de-industrialisation; services and services exports; transport and logistics; real estate business and property-led public initiatives; implementing sustainable development; infrastructure and space; poverty amelioration and urban governance; analysing the city economy and its structural changes; formulating and evaluating city development strategies; city case studies.

On completion students will:

• Have gained a critical understanding of the city economy as an interacting and holistic entity;
• Be able to propose appropriate policy measures for different economic activities;
• Be able to analyse the city economy’s structural changes and identify the key factors;
• Be able to evaluate the effects and impact of government intervention;
• Be able to develop and formulate city development strategies.

Practice in Urban Economic Development
This module aims to expose students to contrasting practices of urban economic development in order to enable them to gain a better understanding of the process of managing local economic development. It also endeavours to develop the participants’ analytical and evaluative capacity.

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

• A UK based case study over the 1st and 2nd term: a systematic study of a development initiative in the UK, including its objective, delivery mechanisms, effects and impact, and lessons learnt
• Themed workshop (s) in the 1st term
• Overseas field trip in the 3rd term: a week-long (excluding traveling time) field visit, preceded by individual and group preparation activities (including lectures, private reading of case material, group discussions and seminars), and followed by group discussions and presentation, and finally the production of individual and group reports

On completion students will:

• Have been exposed to contrasting experiences of urban economic development practice;
• Be able to critically evaluate the effects and impacts of development initiatives;
• Have acquired a better appreciation of the economic development contexts in both developed and developing countries

Optional Modules

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

Environment and Sustainable Development
Two ESD modules can be chosen as options. The first option (BENVES01) offers a comprehensive review of the contemporary debate on development and environmental sustainability. It further provides 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. Within the second option (BENVES02) participants learn 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.

Development Administration and Planning
Three of the DAP modules currently on offer may be chosen as options. The first option (BENAPA01) 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.

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.

Learning Outcomes

The UED Course provides

Knowledge and understanding of:

• The theoretical foundation of urbanisation and the contexts and processes of managing the city economy;
• The components of activity that underlie rapid economic growht in cities;
• The significant economic, social and politcial changes affecting cities;
• Past experiences in managing the city economy;
• The methods of economic appraisal, analysis and evaluation.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies:

• Seminars, lectures and work in small teams (both inside and outside the classroom);
• ntegrative 2-3 day workshops;
• Subject-specific academic skills sessions;
• Overseas fieldtrip to a developing country.

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  report.

Intellectual skills:

The programme aims to help students:

• To develop analytical and critical skills in the interpretation of social, economic and political processes, at all levels, that affect the operation and performance of city economies,
• To examine critically the roles of the state versus market in specific urban economic development experiences and identify lessons from these.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Acquisition of 1 and 2 fostered in all modules, dissertation work and other course activities (e.g. workshops and fieldtrip) in that all require understanding and dealing with often complex and fast changing situations.

Assessment:
Unseen examinations, individual essays (fron 1,000 to 3,000 words in length) and course work, team work reports and a report.

The programme aims to help students:

   1. To prepare well-supported and critical (written and oral) analyses of theory and empirical evidence
   2. To acquire the skills of systematic and critical analysis of the structural changes of city economies.  
   3. To acquire basic academic, presentation and negotiation skills
   4. To acquire basic research skills including the formulation of a conceptual framework and use of a range of information sources
   5. To acquire multi-disciplinary team-working skill
   6. To operate professionally in an unfamiliar environment in a developing country context

Teaching/learning methods and strategies:

   1. Research and preparation of essays, course work and a dissertation
   2. Research and preparation of outputs in response to specific terms of reference of city case studies    
   3. Research, preparation and presentation of written essays, oral presentations and team work in workshops  
   4. Research, analysis and preparation of long essays and a dissertation
   5. Team work in workshops, modules and fieldtripFieldtrip overseas

Assessment:
1-5: Unseen examinations, individual essays (from 1,000 to 3,000 words in length) and course work, team work reports, oral presentations and a disseration
6: not assessed

Transferable Skills:

   1. Write well-argued essays and dissertations
   2. Use computer resources and information technology
   3. Present material orally and visually
   4. Listen and contribute to group discussions
   5. Challenge conventional wisdom
   6. Reflect on their own ideas by becoming more tolerant of and acquainted with unfamiliar ideas and practices
   7. Live and work in a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural environment
   8. Critically assess evidence for themselves through independent judgement
   9. Develop negotiation skills
  10. Improve time management and develop self-discipline

Teaching/learning methods and strategies:

   1. Long essay, course work, dissertation  
   2. Research, preparation and word-processing of written course work and essays    
   3. Seminar, workshop and team work presentations
   4. Seminar and workshop discussions
   5. Reading and presentation of theoretical positions and complex arguments in a classroom environment
   6. Organised seminar and workshop discussions with other course participants (who come from very diverse cultural and disciplinary backgrounds)
   7. Team work, class discussion, workshop and overseas fieldtrip
   8. Essays, seminar presentations, debates, dissertation
   9. Ad hoc workshop
  10. Setting clear and strict deadlines for assessed and non-assessed outputs

Assessment:
1-2, 5-6, 8, and 10: unseen examination, long essays and dissertation; 3 and 4 assessed only as part of 1; 7 and 9 not assessed.

Hits: 2248

                                                                     

Staff:
Le-Yin Zhang BSc PhD
Course Director: Economist specialising in economic development and city management. Research interest in inward foreign direct investment, public finance and central-local relationship, capital market development, privatisation and the role of the state in transitional economies (esp. China). Teaching, research and consultancy experiences in Asia and Europe.

Robinson Rojas, BSc, PhD:
Development economist. Academic interests: political economy of development; social, political and economic effects of the process of globalisation, education for sustainability and the political economy of the world economy.

Peter Townroe BA MA Dlitt:
Economist with particular expertise in the policy area of urban and regional economic development. Contract studies for a variety of public agencies within the UK and internationally. Research and consultancy experiences in the USA, Europe, Latin America and Asia.


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).M


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 Economics
• Development Finance
• Development Studies
• Environmental Issues
• Globalisation
• Governance
• Human Resources
• International Relations
• International Trade
• Participatory Approaches
• Poverty Analysis
• Project Planning
• Research Methods
• Social Policy and Development
• Urban Studies and Planning
• :Other:

Country(ies):

• United Kingdom

Town(s) or City(ies):
London

Course fees:
Tuition fees are fixed annually by University College London and are therefore subject to modification. The fee for this course for the 2005/06 academic year for overseas students was £12,750 and for European Union students £6,250. The fee covers the cost of all tuition and basic course costs, including field visits and a field trip overseas. Participants should allow approximately £900 per month to cover the cost of living, clothing, books and local travel in London.

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