As part of the Education for Everyone project, the first phase (known as the education policy review) focused on initial planning education and discussed "the time taken, the delivery mechanisms and the content of accredited planning courses" as set out in the RTPI Corporate Strategy.
Therefore the review concentrated on the Institute's degree accreditation procedures and guidance; whether it remains fit-for-purpose. This is because the context for initial planning education, the profession at large and the Institute has changed significantly since 2003 when the current principles of accreditation were adopted. We wish to retain the strong principles for initial planning education of academic quality and preparing graduates for planning practice, while supporting expansion of course delivery and numbers of students studying, and completing, a planning degree.
Removing unintended barriers to the development of professional planners for students, as well as universities and employers, is therefore a important aim. The review now incorporates considerations of, and implications for, the APC with regard to Initial Planning Education: in particular; the level and amount of work experience and the skills required for a graduate to succeed in the workplace and a candidate to be ready to access the APC.
Taking account of feedback and asks from some stakeholders during a number of engagement exercises - the preliminary elements of the project had begun to consider options and implications for expanding both fully accredited and specialist planning accreditation at undergraduate level, alongside the current postgraduate Master’s level. There is more work to be done however and no decisions have yet been made. There are similarities and connections across the education pathways into the APC and so the increased coordination and analysis of the data and information around the accreditation of degrees and the work experience and competencies required for the APC will ensure a clear route for students and the planners of tomorrow into the profession.
