Our cities' future is in their sights
Record numbers of young people interested in the future of cities have chosen UNSW’s City Planning degree, with demand increasing by more than 100 per cent.
Published on the 20 Jan 2017 by Fran Strachan
UNSW student Gemma Eagle wants to help plan a growing Sydney. Photo: Fairfax Photos/ Daniel Munoz
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Record numbers of young people interested in the future of their cities have chosen UNSW’s City Planning degree, with first preferences increasing by more than 100 per cent.
UNSW Built Environment’s Bachelor of City Planning (Hons) degree is designed to give students the skills to manage contemporary challenges facing the built and natural environments.
Sustainability and climate change issues, transport and infrastructure provision, facilitating urban renewal, and tackling social inequality and exclusion are all covered in the four-year degree.
What I like about City Planning is the idea that I can do something every day that has visibility and could potentially change lives.
Discipline Director Simon Pinnegar says the high demand for the degree, which is accredited by the Planning Institute of Australia, shows that the next generation is keen to take a pivotal role in shaping the future.
“Global cities like Sydney are rapidly growing and changing, and this means we need to step up the skills and knowledge of tomorrow’s planners to meet those challenges and opportunities,” Pinnegar said.
Gemma Eagle will start her Bachelor of City Planning this year. She graduated from Reddam House with an ATAR of 97.9 and made the HSC Top Allrounders List published in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Gemma became interested in city planning after her aunt, a NZ-based urban planner, was involved in rebuilding Christchurch after the devastating 2010 earthquake.
“I found it really inspiring talking to her about her role in replanning the city after such a traumatic event,” Gemma said.
“What I like about City Planning is the idea that I can do something every day that has visibility and could potentially change people’s lives.”
Developed with industry, government and practice partners, the Bachelor of City Planning includes a practice year where students take up paid work placements with key public agencies and private organisations across metropolitan Sydney and regional areas.
“This unrivalled real-world experience adds fantastic depth and grounding to students’ academic studies as well as ensuring that employment rates for our graduates are hard to beat,” Pinnegar said.
City Planning is just one UNSW Built Environment degree that has seen a growth in demand for 2017. Architectural Studies, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design and Computational Design have all attracted increased first preferences.
Read The Sydney Morning Herald article here