Spatial Planning for Regions in Growing Economies (SPRING)

SPRING combines intensive training in development theories and strategies, planning concepts and methods, and implementation and monitoring tools with practice-oriented field studies aimed at elaborating regional development plans and programmes in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The programme focuses on the specific cultural and socio-economic contexts in the developing world.
SPRING places its emphasis on development management at the level between macro-regional and community-based planning.
Development planning is seen as a problem-oriented management tool with the following objectives:

• to identify development problems, trends, resources, constraints and potentials
• to formulate development objectives, policies and strategies
• to design plans and programmes
• to assess environmental impacts of plans and programmes
• to organise target group participation and decision making processes
• to apply instruments for programme implementation and management
• to evaluate and monitor plans and programmes

Educational organisation

The Spring programme is composed of 11 modules (see below). Each module comprises lectures, seminars, exercises, workshops and field trips. The course structure of the first year, which is offered at TU Dortmund University, follows three phases (analysis, planning, implementation), simulating an ideal planning cycle. Each phase converges into a one-week workshop which integrates the various subjects. The second year, which takes place at the partner universities, offers applied field research, project and thesis work. The submission of a Master's thesis is a compulsory component of the final examination.

First year
Module 1 Planning Approaches and Key Skills for Planning
Module 2 Workshop - Planning Practice
Module 3 Planning in Developing Countries and Physical Infrastructure
Module 4 Planning Tools
Module 5 Concepts and Theories for Planning
Module 6 Socio-Economic Development Planning

Second year
Module 8 Planning and Research Methods
Module 9a) Policy Planning and Implementation in Ghana
Module 9b) Policy Planning and Implementation in the Philippines
Module 9c) Urban Planning and Management in Tanzania
Module 9d) Environmental Management Policy and Economic Development Planning and Implementation in Latin America
Module 10 Development Planning Workshop
Module 11 Master's thesis

Study abroad unit(s)

The SPRING programme is a two-year course. The first year is conducted in Dortmund followed by a second year at one of the SPRING partner universities with different areas of specialisation:
- Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana: District Development Planning and Management

• School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP), University of the Philippines, Manila, The Philippines: Regional Development Planning with special focus on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
• School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ardhi University (ARU), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: Urban and Regional Development Planning and Management
• Facultad de Ciencias, Economicas y Administrativas, Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh), Valdivia, Chile: Environmental Economics in Planning

Internships

None

Forms of assessment

Oral and written examinations; assignments

Course objectives

The SPRING course structure and content is oriented towards four overall objectives by:
1) improving the organisational and planning capacities of developing countries
2) training professionals for regional development planning and management, both urban and rural
3) training planners as process managers facilitating alliances between various stakeholders
4) imparting an interdisciplinary approach

Language requirements

High proficiency in English:
TOEFL score of minimum 550 (paper-based)/ 213 (computer-based)/ 80 (internet-based) or
IELTS minimum of 6.0 or
MELAB minimum of 78 points

Academic requirements

Bachelor's degree or its equivalent with significantly above-average grades in either spatial planning, regional planning, urban planning, or a discipline with a planning-relevant focus
Professional experience in a planning-related field and a strong commitment to further work in regional development planning is desirable.

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Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Enrolment fees

TU Dortmund University: 263 EUR per semester, including a semester ticket covering public transport in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: 80 USD (registration, matriculation)
Ardhi University: 20 USD (registration)
University of the Philippines - SURP: 816 EUR (registration, matriculation)
Universidad Austral de Chile: 375 USD (registration)

Costs of living

Germany: 750 EUR per month
Ghana: 485 EUR per month
Tanzania: 435 EUR per month
The Philippines: 518 EUR per month
Chile: 750 EUR per month

Job opportunities

Not possible, because the SPRING programme is a full-time study programme

Arrival support

Prior to their arrival, all participants of the programme will be well informed about how to prepare for Germany. This includes information on accommodation conditions, transport tickets, and tips and suggestions about what to bring to Germany (i.e. clothing, money, academic literature).
A detailed explanation of how to reach Dortmund central station from the international airports in Frankfurt or Düsseldorf is provided, together with the names and telephone numbers of the contact persons and a map of the meeting point in the main station where students will be picked up.

Services and support for international students

During the German language course and the first year of the SPRING programme, TU Dortmund University and SPRING provide students with information on German history, geography, culture and aspects of everyday life in Germany and its people through tutorial courses, socio-cultural activities and excursions.
At all SPRING universities student counselling (personal problems and particular questions) is provided at university and/or faculty level.

Accommodation

At all SPRING universities accommodation in student hostels on campus is organised by SPRING for all participants who have formally expressed their desire to stay in these facilities. This is organised well in advance in order to provide students with an affordable place to stay the very moment they arrive in Dortmund, Kumasi, Dar es Salaam, Manila and Valdivia. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 50-255 EUR per month depending on the country.