European Spatial Planning

[size=16][i][b]Sustainable Development, Social Cohesion and Innovative Regions[/b] An International Master's Degree in Spatial Planning[/i] Autumn 2006 - Spring 2007 : 40 Swedish credits (60 ECTS) The programme starts end of August 2006 and ends in June 2007.[/size]

[i]The deadline for applying[/i] to the programme that started on 29 August 2005 was 1 March 2005. The next application period starts on 1 December 2005 and ends on 1 March 2006. The on-line application form for the European Spatial Planning programme will be available from 1 December 2005 on www.bth.se/apply. The European Spatial Planning Programme is arranged by Blekinge Institute of Technology in collaboration with Nordregio Academy The programme prepares professionals for the challenges of: * Enhancing national and regional competitiveness and innovation * Promoting regional equality and environmental sustainability * Critical reflection on fundamental concepts of European spatial planning * Mastering planning policies and tools for regional development By providing academic training, marketable skills and career-enhancing credentials, drawing on Swedish and European experience. Course details One-year, full-time graduate programme is conducted in English and includes the following courses: * European Spatial Planning: Introduction - covering planning policies and programmes in the European Union, including structural and cohesion funds. * Social and economic cohesion - addressing regional development patterns in the enlarged European Union as well as policies and planning instruments to reduce regional disparities. * Innovative regions - focusing on innovation at the regional level by exploring the concepts of learning regions, regional innovation systems, industrial clusters and the Triple Helix. * Sustainable development - examining the concept of development which equitably meets environmental, social and economic needs of present and future generations as well as policy and planning instruments to promote such development. * Spatial integration of development perspectives - consolidating knowledge from courses 1-4 through practical exercises aimed to demonstrate how social cohesion, regional innovation and sustainable development can interplay in real planning situations. * Thesis module involving preparation of a Master's thesis under guidance of senior academic staff. Info at: http://www.bth.se/tks/esp.nsf/pages/273c7bbb699ba91cc1256bf80044ef09!OpenDocument