Seán O’Reilly, IHBC Director, welcomed new investment in training for planning in the public sector, represented by some £1.8m allocated by Communities and Local Government (CLG).
Seán O’Reilly said: “Given the limited funds for conservation education in our sector, and with much of that tied to protection rather than conservation, up-and-coming conservation professionals with cultural and academic backgrounds can pursue this funding route to help them develop their conservation skills.”
ESRC announced that the investment comes as part of the Government’s initiative to Change the Culture of Planning, as the Communities and Local Government (CLG) will finance 176 postgraduate ‘fast track’ 1 year bursaries in 2009.
The ESRC will administer these studentships.
Candidates with good qualifications in any academic discipline with a interest in the built and natural environment and who wish to pursue a career as a Town Planner in the public sector are encouraged to apply for planning courses and compete for one of the available bursaries.
Students awarded bursaries are asked to agree to work for two of their first five years of employment after qualifying in the public sector.
Notes to editors
1. Of the students who were funded during the first two years of the scheme, 99 per cent completed the course and over two thirds went on the work in the public sector, playing a key role in filling the skills gap.
2. The scheme is advertised by and administered through the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Details of this year’s bursaries will be available on the ESRC website from April 2010.
3. The 16 universities who offer RTPI accredited one year full time post graduate planning courses are:
Birmingham City University (formerly UCE); Leeds Metropolitan University; Liverpool John Moore’s University; London South Bank University; Oxford Brookes University Sheffield Hallam University; University College London; Kingston University; University of Liverpool; University of Manchester; University of Newcastle upon Tyne; University of Reading; University of Sheffield; University of the West of England at Bristol; University of Westminster; University of Birmingham
