Wish To Study "B.Sc Urban Planning" In Pakistan?? Check Its Accreditation First!
And then also about
Updated List Of Institutions/Universities Offering Courses In Architecture And Urban Planning - 2014
At that time, i advised readers to prefer studying in PCATP accredited universities only. However, the times have changed. Competition for admission is rising, and at the same time, supply of non accredited institutions who offer urban planning degrees is increasing. I mean it is good as more and more institutions are coming up. it will surely increase the level of education and probably would lead to external linkages with other planning schools over the world. And there are great chances that they many of the currently non accredited schools would get the desired accreditation status sooner or later.
Recently, a reader asked me a question:
... I don't have enough marks in Intermediate to get admission in a RECOGNIZED CRP program in Punjab..... [but] I also have the option of admission at UMT or NFC in BS CRP program. Will it be a worthy option?
...many public jobs advertisement DO NOT MENTION THE NEED FOR PCATP REGISTRATION.
It is totally worth if you could study BS CRP program in ANY university, EVEN, if it is not recognized by PACTP.
Why? because there are many reasons behind it.
Firstly, because getting urban planning education is better than not getting it at all.
Secondly, urban planning is a skill, it is a profession which is a nice field of study and profession.
Thirdly, who knows if your university program of CRP gets accreditation in future and possibly during your own course of study.
Fourthly, It has a good job market and unemployment rate among urban planners is probably close to ZERO in Pakistan (it is my personal opinion, particularly for Punjab).
Fifthly, although the planners from unrecognized universities / institutions may not get accreditation from PCATP, they could still work as urban planners in the background without using their names e.g. without signing as planning professionals.
And finally, there is a big market for employment of all urban planning graduates in a range of private and even in government sectors, as well. I have observed that many public jobs advertisement DO NOT MENTION THE NEED FOR PCATP REGISTRATION. They just ask that the degree should be from HEC RECOGNIZED UNIVERSITY ONLY.
I think this requirement aspect is going to change the landscape of urban planning education and practice in Pakistan.
I see two streams of urban planners over five years or so. The ones who would have a PCATP registration and the ones without it.
"... I don't have enough marks in Intermediate to get admission in a RECOGNIZED CRP program in Punjab..... [but] I also have the option of admission at UMT or NFC in BS CRP program. Will it be a worthy option?"
.... A reader asked me recently
My answer was "It is totally worth if you could study BS CRP program in a university if it is not recognized by PACTP"
And more importantly, the CRP graduates without PCATP accreditation could always seek accreditation from other organizations such as RTPI (Just google it).
They could study foreign masters program in urban planning.
They could work in foreign institutions as they normally do not ask for PCATP registration.
And probably if they want, they could wait and get a double degree in planning in future.
An urban planner is not just an urban planner. He or she is a Human geographer, a spatial analyst, a designer, a social / urban policy analyst and so on.
Conclusion:
Please do study urban planning in Pakistan. Do your research dissertations on transportation planning, human geography and spatial planning. These fields have a great potential for employment in current and future prospects of Pakistan. Use computer based planning e.g. AutoCAD, GIS, and get skill in programming languages such as Python, Java etc. it would be very useful. An urban planner is not just an urban planner. He or she is a Human geographer, a spatial analyst, a designer, a social / urban policy analyst and so on.