Planning School Programs in Australia and New Zealand

Free to Choose

“…Notwithstanding their impressive defence, Gunder and Fookes (1997) do not compromise McLoughlin's characterisation that 'spatial political U S ' economy' is not the anchor of town planning education or the power centre of such education. They succeed only in showing the presence of subjects that are not design or physical planning-oriented.…”

“…It is accepted by Badcock (1996), who felt that the full potential of political economy in urban geography has not been realised owing to 'premature foreclosure'. Gunder and Fookes (1997) expressed a different view. Through a meticulous analysis of the curricula of Australian and Zealand planning schools, they rebutted McLoughlin's criticism as being factual incorrect, at least as far Australia and New Zealand are concerned.…”

“…The reality is that the curricula of most planning schools have certain elements of political economy as part of the teaching program, as revealed by Gunder and Fookes (1997) and Gunder (1998), and allow political economy, in whatever sense, as a framework for students in writing their assignments, term papers or dissertations. Dissertations allow much room for self-teaching, creative discourse and integrative thinking about spatial planning.…”