Academic Calendar and Weekly Load
Teaching in SPAV is spaced into 2 semesters per annum. In each semester, there is approximately 17-18 weeks of teaching, with 35 periods per week (having 5 working days each). Out of the 35 periods per week, the majority portion is assigned to Planning Design Studio with the balance delving into theory courses. There are progressive internal assessments throughout the semester in each subject. Semester end examinations happen every April-May and November-December, which includes written, viva-voce and jury exams.
Theory Subjects
In each semester, there are approximately 4-5 theory subjects covered by each planning batch. The theory subjects are lecture and tutorial intensive and are aimed at enhancing theoretical understanding with critical thinking. Theories, techniques, tools and models are introduced with specific weekly lecture plans, interspaced with assignments and assessments.
Planning & Design Studio
Planning requires hands-on experience to utilise the knowledge gained out of theoretical subjects. This is done through practical field based exercises that involve preparation of development and spatial plans at various levels.These subjects with entail students to take up a live planning exercise of a city and address its issues to plan for the future Is called studios. Studios help students to work in teams, and get acquainted with live case areas and their problems and help them prepare a professional plan that is relevant to the residents and local bodies.
Each semester has a studio focus. The studiofocus starts from graphic design techniques at first semester and gradually extends till preparation of Regional plan at pre-final semester in all the three programmes.
The planning and design studio is carried out in parallel to theory subjects. The studio methodology progresses through a study of literature, preparation of basemap and thematic maps, field visits (which includes collection and collation of data from various offices and also through interviews, surveys, focus group discussions etc.), data analysis and finally coming out with development proposals for a particular case area that address issues or infrastructure, transportation, land use, housing, social amenities and environment.
The planning and design studio culminate in an external jury where the students are required to showcase their entire semester work to a panel of external experts from both academics and industry. Apart from this, students are assessed at various stages of their work through internal reviews conducted by the department.For more details Click here
Other Lab Subjects
The planning programmes also have laboratory based subjects that cover Geoinformatics, Environmental Monitoring, Surveying and Photogramettry, Research Methods, Impact Assessments, etc. where the students work on computing platforms and specific equipment to record, retrieve and analyse data from different parts of the city or a district. Such subjects bring an edge to the theoretical background and industrial relevance.
Thesis
Thesis semester as the final semester, gives an opportunity to students to put their learning of previous semesters together. In this process, each student is required to undertake a research project of their interest concerning subjects relevant to the field of planning. Through the thesis, students synthesize the knowledge and skills acquired during the learning of various theories and practices throughout the course and apply it for strategy formulation for a live planning challenge.
Each student is allocated individual thesis supervisor(s) who guide him/her through the semester. The thesis is monitored continuously and periodically, through internal marked reviews, to check the consistency of work, the relevance of the analysis with respect to the project scope, and the progress towards logical proposals. The final output is firstly in the form of an extended abstract, which once approved is followed by the submission of a detailed report and drawing/visuals which is presented to an external jury panel consisting of experts from the relevant field. For more details Click here
Special Lectures
SPAV constantly strives to bring experts in the profession to the campus to interact and share their experience and knowledge with the students. In this aspect, the Department of Planning has maintained an edge by having series of special lectures over the semesters with academicians of repute visiting and spending interactive time with students. For more details Click here
Professional Training
All planning students have to undergo professional training during the summer vacation as a partial fulfilment for the degree requirements. The training period ranges approximately 4 - 6 weeks. During the training period, students work with Government Departments, Private Consultancy Firms, NGOs and INGOs, research and development organisations, urban local bodies, etc. which are either specialised in planning or undertake planning projects. The training is coordinated by the Department and develops a strong link between the students and the profession before they pass out.
Placements
Students of Planning of SPAV are well-placed across the nation in various capacities. A large number are working with the Government as planners, with a sizable number working as planning corporate consultants spread all over India. A section of the Alumni is also working as independent planners and has turned into entrepreneurs with their own incorporated firms. Many of the SPAV planners have moved to foreign shores for higher education and are settled therein. SPAV has a placement coordination cell, which help the students connect with suitable job opportunities according to their interest areas. The job opportunities in the field of planning ranges from working in development agencies under government, private companies involved in planning and research organisation, policy making institutes, academic institutions, real estate sector, government schemes etc.
Library, Labs and Facilities
The Central SPAV Library has more than 1500 planning titles with digital access to international and national reputed planning journals. This is an integral part of the academic system of teaching and learning, where students have to refer books and articles for every lecture attended to help them understand the subjects. The library is also a knowledge repository of previous studio works and thesis done within the department, which students can freely access for reference. The Department is also equipped with an advanced GIS Lab and an Environmental Monitoring Lab, with state of the art equipment. The labs are relevant to various theory subjects and studio projects at the bachelor’s level. Hostel and mess facilities are available for all students of the department wherein the safety and the comfort of the students are ensured
