Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development

Ethiopia, like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, is undergoing a rapid process of urbanization. Accordingly, the urbanization rate is estimated to increase from about 17% at present to about 24%, 29%, and 36% in 2030, 2040, and 2050, respectively. This will put a huge pressure on our cities and emerging towns to absorb the rapid urban growth. The accelerating rate of urbanization around the world demands planning ahead to enhance the growth of cities in an orderly, equitable, and sustainable way. Urban planning becomes essential in guiding, directing, and managing urban spatial development trends. The complexities in the urban fabric demand the need to train professional urban planners who are competent enough to shape the nature of the urban form through determining where, when, and how development should occur.

Urban planning is a major player in the economies of many countries, generating growth and wealth for the nations through its all-around linkages with various sectors. The field of urban planning encompasses all aspects of the development of human settlements, including the use of land, protection of the environment, economic productivity, and the future allocation of physical and social public resources. Most often, the discipline of urban planning is understood with respect to the planning of urban areas, cities, and regional towns in respect to their forms and structures, but it has grown to include all aspects of the formulation and implementation of public policy at all levels of society. In the present day’s urban planning practices worldwide, it plays a great role in advancement to meticulously plan, organize, and manage the entire work involved in development.

When compared to the number of complex ongoing development projects across the country, the number of such urban planners and managers available to lead urban planning activities in the country is extremely low. Most managers in many urban planning sectors lack the required high level knowledge and skill to provide efficient service and also to initiate policy ideas that could enhance sustainable urban development. Hence, the PhD program initiated by Bahir Dar University Institute of Land Administration can be of great importance to avail knowledgeable professionals who could efficiently guide the urbanization process and urban development in the country.

Bahir Dar University's Institute of Land Administration, as one of the leading higher educational institutions focusing on land & the built environment and with long years of teaching and research in the field, is expected to play a significant role in producing highly qualified researchers and practitioners in this field. Accordingly, and in line with the Bahir Dar University development strategies, the Institute of Land Administration is currently planning to start a new PhD program in Urban Planning and Development in the coming academic year of 2023/24. To this effect, the Curriculum committee at the Institute of Land Administration conducted a need assessment. 

The curriculum for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Urban Planning and Development degree is designed to provide students, or train individuals with, the capacity to independently address issues and problems that contribute to knowledge and expertise in the field of urban planning. It is a doctoral degree with a flexible, interdisciplinary focus, designed to nurture distinguished scholars and researchers, offers research and learning opportunities encompassing the field of Urban Planning and Development. 

It is a four year program, and is structured to enable students to pursue one year of coursework (i.e. two semesters), in a major area, as well as minor area that complements and supports the field of specialization. The subsequent three years are dedicated for the field research, analysis, and writing of the dissertation. During these three years, the student, shall be guided by major and co-advisors for each respective research work as well as, writing the dissertation. In that respect, therefore, at all stages of the program, the student shall work closely with a faculty advisor to tailor his course of study to his particular research interests.

The program shall be based on a core curriculum of required planning and research courses, as well as, courses that focus on a content, relevant to the student’s area of research that would be in one of the approved sub-specialty. The main emphasis of the core area shall be in the following subjects.

1. Urban studies 

2. Development theory 

3. Advanced research methodology and Doctoral seminar

4. Advanced Urban Planning Theory and practice

5. Advanced Urban Analysis Tools & Techniques

In addition to the core area, a student may select a specific research/dissertation topic linked to one of the following sub-specialty of thematic area.

*             Infrastructure development and management - (social, economic, physical & political);

*             Urban Land use planning& Design;

*             Environmental Planning focused on built environment;

*             Landscape Planning;

*             Rural or Urban development/planning;

*             Transportation planning – (rural & urban);

*             Planning & Managing emerging towns;

*             Urban Policy; Urban Politics; Institutions & Land Governance;

*             Urban or Rural Housing;

*             Inner-city revitalization;

*             Urbanization of cities in the developing countries;

*             Other thematic area significantly relevant to the field of Urban Planning & Development.

Objectives of the Program

General Objectives

The general objective of the PhD program is to contribute towards easing the severe shortage of higher level teachers, researchers, and practitioners, policy makers and city managers, in the field of Urban Planning and Development, by producing professionals who are well equipped with research capacities as well as theoretical and practical knowledge and skills.

Specific Objective

The specific objectives of the PhD study program are:

*             To influence contemporary urban planning and development practice

*             To formulate strategies to increase competitiveness of urban centers at different level

*             To enable students acquire valuable knowledge and skill from contribution of distinguished scholars and researchers in the field of Urban Planning & Development;

*             To integrate and coordinate urban and regional development policies within the broad spectrum of physical and spatial planning framework 

*             To offer students, research and learning opportunities encompassing the field of Urban Planning and Design;

*             To  create conducive environment for students become, thought-leaders and exceptional scholars with strong research and communication skills;

*             To cultivate enduring faculty/student mentoring relationships and collegial networking among the peers;

*             To fill the gap where there is a complete or partial absence of skilled and knowledgeable professionals in the field of Urban Planning & Development; 

*             To benefit city governments and administrates, by way of offering training to individuals or to groups, to make them possible, to undertake both independent and collaborative interdisciplinary research on the planning and design of a city; 

*             To establish partnership, with various governmental and non-governmental institutions/organizations, as well as, national and international stakeholders and universities, on research and project work on the planning and design of cities of developing regions.

*             To train all actors involved in planning processes, in methods of communication, participation and co-production, by way of organizing workshops; seminars; publication; etc.

*             Contribute to urban development policies and strategies at higher levels in Ethiopia as well as between international organizations