Teaching and Learning Strategy

GSE830 - Sustainable Urban Regions is a core unit for the Masters of Environmental Planning and is currently approved for inclusion in several study programs, including the Masters in Environmental Management and the Environmental Studies program. Knowledge gained in this unit is useful for students who wish to pursue any career related to strategic and sustainable planning.

GSE830 - Sustainable Urban Regions offers a perspective on global urban management drawing on case studies form urban regions around the world. The diversity in interpretations of sustainable development for urban environments are critically examined. The drivers of unsustainable behaviour in urban regions are explored to develop an understanding of the social, economic and environmental management challenges for these regions. The unit unpacks the strategic ways in which these challenges can be addressed.

The strategic and practical focus of GSE830 aligns with the complementary unit GSE816 Local Government Approval Process  and GSE818 Environmental Planning which provides a basic understanding of the history of theory of environmental planning. This unit outline will assist you in all aspects of your study in this unit.

Classes

Classes are held on Mondays commencing at 6:30pm and concluding at 9:30pm. In order to maximise learning outcomes, students are expected to attend at least 80% of classes. If you miss more than 3 sessions you will be required to show cause.

Assessment Summary

Assessment of your performance is based on 3 assignments. Two of these are individual written pieces and one is a group presentation. All assignments must be completed to receive a passing grade.

1. Written Report (30%): 2000 – 2500 words due Monday 8 September 2014

2. Group Presentation (35%): due Monday 3 November 2014

3. Individual Report and Reflection (35%): due Monday 10 November 2014

Assignments 1 and 3 must be submitted using www.turnitin.com prior to the due date and a hard copy must be submitted at 6:30pm in class on the due date listed. Your assignments must be submitted with a Cover Sheet. Students must complete all the details on the Cover Sheet and sign the declaration regarding academic honesty that is part of the Cover Sheet.

Assignment 2 is the group presentation and will be submitted in class.

Please note that the penalty for late submission of assignment is 5% per day or part thereof, calculated from the due date and time listed. Please talk (or email) Karen about any circumstances that affect your assignments before the due date.

Workload Expectation

It is generally expected that students will commit at least 3 hours per week per credit point in their studies. Thus, in addition to attending weekly classes for 3 hours, students are expected to complete appropriate reading, research and other activities equivalent to at least 9 hours per week. Thus the total workload for this unit should be considered as a minimum of 12 hours per week throughout the semester. If you are unable to make this commitment to your study, then you should reconsider your decision to enrol or reassess your priorities. For many students in this class, this unit is a core element of your studies and you should be aiming to secure as high a grade as possible. If you consider you face impediments in committing to this unit, please discuss you situation with Karen.

Technology

GSE830 makes extensive use of Blackboard for posting readings, slides and additional material that will be useful for assignments. Marks and feedback will also be delivered via Blackboard. Turnitin will be used for submitted assignments. Access to the internet and regular access to the unit’s website is essential for GSE830.

Other Material

The following is a list of recommended references relating to the unit generally. This is not an exhaustive list and students are encouraged to read beyond these references, especially for assignment work. The readings below are all accessible in the library. Reading lists associated with individual sessions and workshops will be made available during class. Some workshop sessions will require preparatory reading which will be provided before the session. It is important to read widely.

Cervero, R. 1998. The transit Metropolis: a global inquiry. Island Press, Washington DC.

Campbell, S. 1996. Green cities, growing cities or just cities, Urban Planning and the Contradictions of Sustainable Development. Journal of the American Planning Association, 62:3, 296-312.

CSIRO. 2004. In Search of Sustainability. CSRIO Publishing.

Diesendorf, M and Hamilton, C. 1997. Human Ecology, Human Economy. Allen & Unwin. Sydney.

Finco, A and Nijkamp, P. 2001. Pathway to Urban Sustainability. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning Vol. 3. 289-302.

Forman, R.T.T. 2008. Urban Regions: Ecology and Planning Beyond the City.

Geddes, R. 1997. Cities in our Future: growth & form, environmental health & equity. Island Press.

Girardet, H. 1992. Gaia Atlas of Cities: new directions of sustainable urban living. Gaia Books, London.

Girardet, H. 1999. Creating Sustainable Cities. Green Books, Dartington England.

Hall, P and Ulrich, P. 2000. Urban Future 21: a global agenda for twenty-first century cities. E&FN Spon, New York.

Hamilton, C and Dennis, R. 2005. Affluenza: when too much is never enough. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest. Sydney.

Hamm, B and Muttagi, PK. 1998. Sustainable Development & the Future of Cities. Intermediate Technology Publications, London.

Hardy, D. 2008. Cities that don’t cost the earth. Town and Country Planning Association.

House of Representative Standing Committee of Environment and Heritage. 2005. Sustainable Cities. Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia.

Huber, J. 2000. Towards Industrial Ecology: sustainable development as a concept of ecological modernisation. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning Vol 2 269-285.

Inoguchi, T; Newman, E and Paoletto G. 1999. Cities and the environment: new approaches for eco-societies. United Nations University Press, Tokyo, New York.

Jackson, T. 2012. Prosperity without growth. Sustainable Development Commission refer http://www.edcommission.org.uk/publications/downloads/prosperity­_without­growth­report.pdf

Jenks, M and Dempsey, N. 2005. Future forms and design for sustainable cities. Architectural Press, Oxford.

Keli, R; Wekerlw, G and Bell, D. 1996. Local Places in the Age of the Global City Black Rose Books Ltd, Canada.

Leitmann, J. 1999. Sustaining Cities: environmental planning and management in urban design. McGraw Hill.

Low, N et al. 2000. Consuming Cities: the urban environment in the global economy after the Rio Declaration. Routledge, New York.

Mees, P. 2000. A very public solution: transport in the dispersed city. Melbourne University Press.

McManus, P. 2005. Vortex cities to sustainable cities: Australia’s urban challenge. University of New South Wales Press, Sydney.

Newman, P and Kenworthy, J. 1999. Sustainability and Cities: overcoming automobile dependence. Island Press.

Noble, AG and Costa, FJ. 1999. Preserving the Legacy: concepts in support of sustainability. Lexington Books.

Pennington, M. 2006. Sustainable development and British land use planning. Town Planning Review 77(1) 75.

Pugh, C. 2000. Sustainable Cities in Developing Countries. Earthscan, London.

Ravetz, J. 2000. City Region: Integrated planning for a sustainable environment. Earthscan, London.

Roseland, M. 1997. Ecocity dimensions: healthy communities, healthy planet. New Society Publishers.

Satterthwaite, D. 1999. Sustainable Cities: an Earthscale Reader. Earthscan, London.

United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. 1996. An Urbanising World: global report on human settlement. Oxford University Press, New York.

Vanderbilt, T. 2008. Traffic why we drive the way we do (and what this says about us). Allen Lane, New York.

Wheeler, S. 2004. Planning for sustainability. London Routledge.

Wheeler, S and Beatley, T. 2004. The sustainable urban development reader. London Routledge.

The Unit entails face to face lecture sessions; workshop and practical sessions; written assignments and a presentation.