Module description
The Final Research Project Module is aimed mainly to provide the graduates in Urban planning and in Environmental Management options with the opportunity to use independently the acquired knowledge and skills in a personal guided research and to acquire additional knowledge on his research topic related to urban planning, environmental planning and management under the supervision of a specialist in the aforementioned fields.
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of urban planning or environmental management related matters;
- Demonstrate a broad knowledge in research methodology;
- Demonstrate a systematic understanding of his/her thesis topic and forefront knowledge associated to urban planning or Environmental planning;
- Demonstrate a critical thinking in the domain of urban planning or environmental management especially in Rwanda and Eastern Africa;
- Efficiently carry out a research project relating to urban planning or Environmental management;
- Identify problems or issues in the field of urban planning or environmental management,
- Use a range of methods and techniques (field survey, observation and measurement, DGPS; GIS and Remote Sensing software and other appropriate software) in collecting, processing, analyzing data, and in producing, statistics, tables, graphs, and maps included in the thesis or in another research project;
- Have ability to identify data needed in order to perform a research in the field of urban planning or environmental management;
- Evaluate and consolidate his/her knowledge, skills and thinking in the field of urban planning or Environmental management;
- Use Microsoft Office, SPSS software, GIS and Remote Sensing software and other appropriate software and tools in analyzing, evaluating and solving a problem or an issue relating to urban planning or environmental management;
- Use the above-mentioned software in an oral or written presentation;
- Correctly use, evaluate and interpret numerical and graphical data relating to urban planning or environmental management;
- Take responsibility and act autonomously in real professional life;
- Work with others in solving identified problems and gain additional knowledge in urban planning, environmental management, and in other domains.
 Lecturer: Dr Jean Pierre Bizimana
Email: bizijp@yahoo.fr or bizimanajeanpiere@gmail.com Â
The urban design is taught to 3rd year students in the department of Geography at SABE, CST. The module is about the total visual effect of building masses, connections with people and places, creation of spaces for movements, urban amenities and public realm, and the process for improving the overall townscape. Urban design sets the framework for the physical and spatial arrangement and composition of built-forms and their three- dimensional relationship with the spaces around them and the surrounding settings for achievement of aesthetic and socio-cultural qualities. To create a high quality, sustainable built environment in the cities, due considerations should be given to urban design concepts and principles in the planning and development process.
This course will provide students with theoretical and practical techniques for understanding and interpreting urban form. Student will analyse the integrated spatial and sustainability components of the cities’ built form, drawing upon contemporary theoretical and practical frameworks connecting planning with urban design. They will incrementally build knowledge and skills through a combined approach of face to face lectures, readings, tutorial activities, and an intensive block course. In the design project, students will examine both socio-economic and physical/environmental aspects at neighborhood level. Through the application of urban design concepts, students will define and analyze the urban settlements, and formulate recommendations for strengthening the urban neighborhoods. A depth analysis of built environment will help to examine strengths and opportunities of the urban neighborhoods; and design interventions to improve the health, attractiveness and vitality at neighborhood level.
Learning outcomes
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to: demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the organization of the enterprise in which the stage is held and other enterprises conducting similar activities in the field of urban planning, to critically analyses the organization the host enterprise; demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of the activities done by the hosting company; carry out an critical assessment of the activities and the organization of the host company; use learn knowledge to suggest improvement in the activities or the organization of the hosting company; get used with daily work in enterprise and know specific problems or issues in the enterprise; evaluate and consolidate their knowledge, skills and thinking in urban planning specialization; communicate information collected in the enterprise and the experience gained in his stay in the hosting enterprise; improve the use of software used in the field of urban planning; correctly use, evaluate and interpret tables, maps, graphs used in urban planning and other domains, carry out the daily designed activities within a company; act autonomously and eventually innovation in the company; enhance his knowledge in the field of urban planning.
Indicative content
The course Professional Practice focuses mainly on practical skills, for which the students have to carry out a practical assignment or a stage. Students will have to: Carry out a practical assignment or stage; produce a written report that provides an overview of the objectives, activities, publications and achievements of hosting company and the activities done by the student himself; visit professional to companies dealing with environmental matters.
Learning and teaching strategy:
- Brief lecture aimed to inform students on the work in public or privates companies working in the field of urban planning
- Reading and self-study
- Practice in the enterprises
- Daily guidance by a local supervisor (from the enterprise)
- Follow-up by the academic staff from Geography and Urban Planning Department
Assessment strategy
- Daily follow-up by the designed supervisor in the enterprise
-Improvised visits by academic staff from Geography and Urban Planning Department
- Mid-term oral presentation to a panel from the enterprise
- Written report
Module Leader: Dr Jean Pierre Bizimana
Email: bizijp@yahoo.fr or bizimanajeanpiere@gmail.com
The module of Environmental Planning and Management, GEO3263, aims to provide the students with theoretical and practical knowledge enabling them to identify environmental problems and apply the principles of environmental planning and management in order to propose solutions responding to sustainable development.
This is to welcome you to this module of Ecosystems Assessment and Management. This module will introduce basic principles of ecosystems, ecosystem economics, and ecosystem services, valuation of ecosystem services, and different techniques and approaches to restore the degraded ecosystems. It will equip you with knowledge and skills in ecosystem management and restoration approaches, methods and tools. And at the end of the module, you will be able to:
- Describe historical and social context of the concept of ecosystem service
- Understand ecosystem service valuation
- Apply ecosystem services valuation methods
- Apply ecosystem valuation techniques in practice and relevant challenges
- Understand natural capital assessment
- Explain ecosystem management approaches and emerging issues
- Explain ecosystem restoration principles and approaches
- Apply techniques and approaches to restore degraded ecosystems
- Evaluate ecosystem restoration projects
Teaching team: