School of Environment, Resources and Development, (SERD)  
 
Semester Offering: January
 
ED77.17 : Rural Regional Planning Workshop  4(1-6) [Required course]
Course objectives:

The course provides conceptual framework, techniques and methodology in rural and regional planning to analyze problems and formulate a local development plan and project proposals of the study area, involving the active participation of people at the grassroots level. The course participants will be encouraged to use their practical expertise and applications of theoretical knowledge in development planning acquired earlier in conducting the field study in the study area.

 
Learning Outcomes:
  • Explain a multi-level planning framework and identify linkages among national and sub-national planning, particularly local level planning framework;
  • Outline planning methodology, tools and techniques in local level planning focusing on participatory approach;
  • Analyze rural national database and identify data gap;
  • Conduct situation analysis of study area to identify local problems, potentials and needs and prioritize them based on sectoral approach; and
  • Formulate a local development plan, identify development strategies and project proposals.

 
Pre-requisite(s):

None

 
Course Outline:

I.          Planning Methodology
1.      Rural-regional planning approaches and methodology
2.      Participatory planning process and data collection methods
 
II.        Stategic Planning for Regional and Rural development
1.      Strategy, Strategy Formulation and Strategic Planning
2.      Main Analytical Categories and Variables
3.      Identifying and Analysis of Stakeholders
4.      Variables and Linkages in Comprehensive Strategic Planning
 
III.       Rural Database and Information Needs
1.     Type of indicators and sources
2.     Analysis of database for planning (in Thai context applying NRD-2C and BMN database)
3.     Application of rural database in planning
IV.       Sectoral Planning Approaches
1.     Key sectors and sectoral planning framework
2.     Identification of targets (sectors, groups, areas)
3.     Identification and analysis of rural-regional problems, potentials and need in priority
 
V.         Identifying Development Plans
1.     Regional anf rural system and situation analysis
2.     Development gaps analysis
3.     Policy and plan integration of rural and regional level projects/plans
4.     Preparation and finalization of the planning report and project proposals
 

 
Laboratory Sessions:
One-day reconnaissance survey and 5-6 days for a field survey with practical classroom sessions, 6 hours a week with weekly presentation.

 
Learning Resources:

Textbook:
No designated textbook, but class notes, materials and handouts will be provided.

 
Reference Books:
1.    Community Participation Methods in Design and Planning, Nerry Sanoff, John Wiley & Sons, 1999.
2.    Empowering People: Insights from a Local Experiment in Participatory Planning by M. P. Parameswaran, Daanish Books, 2012.
3.     Key Concepts in Planning, Gavin Parker and Joe Doak , London, Sage Publications, 2012.
4.     Powerful Planning Skills, Envisioning the Future and Making it Happen, Peter Capezio, Career Press, 2000.
5.     The Community Planning Handbook: How People Can Shape their Cities Towns and Villages in Any Part of the World, Nick Wates (ed.), Earthscon Publications Limited, 2000.
6.     Participatory Planning Framework for District Development, J.K. Routray and et al., HSD Report No. 35, AIT, Bangkok, 1996.
7.    Regional Economics and Policy, Jim Taylor and Harvey W. Armstrong, Blackwell Publications, 2000, 3rd edition.
8.    Regional Development in Rural Areas, Analytical Tools and Public Policies, Torre, André and Wallet Frederic, Springer Briefs in Regional Science, 2014.
9.    Strategic Planning: A Practical Guide to Strategy Formulation and Execution,  B. Keith Simerson, Praeger, U.S.A., 2011.

 
Journals and Magazines:
1.      Planning Theory and Practices (Routledge)
2.      Regional Science Policy and Practice (Wiley-Blackwell)

 
Time Distribution and Study Load:
Lectures (15 hours), class exercises (15 hours), presentaion (15 hours). Field work (60 hours) and self-study (60 hours).

 
Teaching and Learning Methods:
1.     Lectures, brainstroming, participatory discussion  and interaction, periodic seminar given by resource person(s), field work and presentation and class assignments.
2.     Final presentation of a local development plan and project proposals to povincial,district and sub-district authorities.

 
Evaluation Scheme:
The final grade will be computed according to the following weight distribution:  Assignments (15%), field work (10%), participatory assessment on group assignments (5%), workshop reports and development proposals (40%) and final examination of closed books (30%).

In the examination, an “A” would be awarded if a student can elaborate the knowledge learned in class by giving her/his own analysis in development project and planning cases conducted in this course and from journal articles and including assigned readings in planning. A “B” would be awarded if a student shows an overall understanding of all given topics, a “C” would be given if a student meets below average expectation on both knowledge acquired and analysis of those case studies. A “D” would be given if a student does not meet basis expectations in understanding and analyzing the topics and issues presented in the course.