Satisfactory performance by whose measure? The challenges of delivering a professional planning degree in a post-modern world at the University of New England, Armidale

Abstract

University education in post-modern times requires the delivery of courses that are responsive to a variety of political, institutional, market, community and individual expectations. These expectations manifest in a multitude of different forms - economic efficiency, student satisfaction, employability, institutional frameworks. For professional degrees, such as Urban & Regional Planning, there are the added dimensions of course accreditation and employer expectations. Multi-modal forms of education delivery, i.e. a mix of internal and on-line, distance education, greatly increases the complexity. Using the Urban & Regional Planning programmes at the University of New England as a case study, this paper argues that planning courses must maintain a focus on delivering quality outcomes that are focused beyond the immediate metrics used to measure course and unit 'success' and focus on developing forward-thinking students that are capable of delivering outcomes for wider social benefit.