In launching the Corporate Strategy in 2020, under Pillar four, Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, we made a clear commitment to our members and stakeholders to undertake a detailed review – EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE. The stated aim of this review is to “broaden access to the pathways into chartered membership, to reach out to attract diverse talent, which will include reviewing the time taken, the delivery mechanisms and the content of courses”. Overall, its purpose is to ensure our approach fits our ambition to be more inclusive and to deliver our vision, to be the world’s leading professional planning body, and our mission, to advance the science and art of planning, working for the long-term common good and wellbeing of current and future generations. Fundamentally this is about attracting the brightest and best talents into our discipline and profession.
Over the past two years, we have completed preliminary work and taken soundings from a wide range of members and planning academics. A programme of research and engagement has informed a direction of travel. It’s fair to say that undertaking such a task was never going to be without its challenges, and as we approached the midpoint of 2023 it seemed appropriate to pause and take stock of the rich variety of views and consultation responses we had received to date. Thriving planning education and research is vital to the future of the profession, and our partnership with our accredited planning schools is critical to this. In this period of rapid change across the education sector, its right that we take the time to get this right.
That's why I am pleased that the RTPI Board of Trustees has now agreed to fund a second phase of its Education for Everyone project to fulfil our Corporate Strategy commitment into broadening access to pathways into chartered membership and reaching out to attract diverse talent, and align our thinking and wider considerations on the professional competencies and skills required for graduates as they enter the world of work. This second phase therefore formally includes the APC.
At the heart of the project is wanting to attract more people into the planning profession for the public good. Whilst the announcement earlier this year on bursaries for postgraduates in England and our partnership with Public Practice can go some way to addressing the deficit, our ‘state of the profession’ research shows the number of planners has remained relatively flat, and there is still much to do.
We thank all RTPI members and stakeholders for your continued support and patience and we look forward to reaching out again over the course of the coming year to ensure that all voices are heard. It is very important that the RTPI retains, and grows, our position as the world leading provider of planning education.
