Department of Urban Planning and Design

The Department of Urban Planning and Design is an Academic Department dedicated to educating and training professionals who can plan, design, manage, and guide the sustainable development of urban areas. The department provides students with knowledge and practical skills in urban planning, urban design, land-use planning, spatial development, infrastructure planning, environmental management, and urban development. Through studio-based learning, fieldwork, research, and practical projects, students develop the ability to analyze urban challenges and prepare appropriate planning and design solutions.

The Department also Contributes to Society through Research, Consultancy, Community Service, and Professional Engagement. It promotes sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and well-organized urban development by integrating physical, social, economic, environmental, and infrastructural considerations. The Department works to produce competent and ethical urban planning and design professionals who can respond to rapid urbanization and contribute effectively to the development of cities and communities.

Program Description

Urbanization has become a way of life even in Developing Countries such as Ethiopia and will continue to play a dominant role in shaping the future of the economy and society. Yet, the number and the quality of professionals in the field of urban planning are not sufficient enough to meet the challenges of rapid urbanization, metropolitization and globalization. It is therefore with this understanding that we propose the revision of the curriculum for the proposed new Urban and Regional Planning program within the EiABC of the Addis Ababa University. It is indeed intended to provide the framework for further debate, discussion and incite contributions from other concerned institutions of higher education.

Rationale, Objectives, Outcome of the Program

Program Rationale

Planning is the guidance of future actions. Urban and regional planning and corresponding laws and by-laws are, therefore, activities carried out to guide socio-economic and spatial development of a planning area. In Ethiopia until recently there were no regulatory provisions to guide the preparation and implementation of urban and regional development plans.

Objectives

The general objective of the program is to train Urban and Regional Planners equipped with conceptual and practical knowledge and skill to carry out regional and urban development activities including preparations of Action, Strategic, Structural, Local Development Plans (LDP) and other statutory Urban and Regional Development Plans.

Program Outcome

The urban planner is a professional that deals with change and planning the future. Together with key actors of the local and regional society, economy and culture and on the basis of federal and regional law, the planner produces a variety of future plans at the different spatial scales ranging from local to regional and interregional. He moderates the processes of implementing these plans.