The University of Glasgow secured a double coup at The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) annual awards by winning two out of three education and lifelong learning honours. George Weeks - planning awards 2009

The award for excellence in planning education went to the university’s department of urban studies, which launched a planning school in 2006.

This offers an MSc programme in real estate, planning and regeneration comprising five courses designed to overcome professional barriers.

Students follow a common path initially combining such areas as development economics, governance, sustainability, professional ethics and business management.

Full-time, part-time and modular students come together for a 'conference style' intensive period of formal teaching and learning timetabled in a block between early October and June. Students can also seek dual RTPI and RICS accreditation.

The judges praised the programme for creating ‘a business model that could help develop good practice elsewhere.’

George Weeks, who is studying for an MSc in city planning and real estate development at Glasgow, won the award for outstanding student achievement in planning education for his study of the space around the Adam Smith Building in Glasgow. The judges praised Weeks for ‘cleverly intertwining theoretical ideas with detailed site appraisal.’

Professor David Adams, Ian MacTaggart Chair of Property & Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow said: “The whole team in Urban Studies has worked hard to create this ambitious and innovative MSc programme and we have recruited some truly outstanding students since it was established in 2006. I’m delighted to see these achievements recognised in these two important professional awards.”

The education awards were sponsored by Asset Skills.

First published: 10 February 2009

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