Capacity Building in Urban Planning and Management in the South Caribbean

There is an increasing emphasis on the importance of cities and urban planning as an engine of economic growth in the South Caribbean. However, the region has limited capacity in the sector of urban planning and management and its universities are generally poorly equipped to prepare professionals in the field.

To address this issue, the “Capacity Building in Urban Planning and Management in the South Caribbean” project aims to promote capacity, knowledge and techniques related to urban planning and management. The ultimate goal is improved and sustainable human
settlements in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the smaller islands of the South Caribbean.

Specifically, the project will strengthen undergraduate curricula and implement a one-year joint graduate training programme in urban planning and management. This will be achieved through extensive institutional cooperation between three South Caribbean universities and one European university.

The University of the West Indies, the University of Guyana and the Anton de Kom University in Suriname in the South Caribbean will combine their knowledge of urban planning and management with the expertise of the University of Amsterdam.

To ensure effective sharing of best academic practice these four universities will establish a Caribbean Network for Urban and Land Management. This will include the participation of tertiary education institutions and key civil society partners, as well as relevant partners in the international environment. This institution will have an ongoing networking and policy development role and help to administer the joint graduate training programme and similar training initiatives.

Developing curricula and training teachers

Following an assessment of existing educational programmes and specific needs of local agencies and municipalities, undergraduate course materials from each of the universities will be adapted and new course materials for a graduate training programme on urban planning and management will be created.

Also, inter-institutional arrangements for the implementation of this programme will be discussed, as will the approval process for course content at each university. External stakeholders (professional associations, planning agencies and NGOs) will be consulted on the content of the programme.

Another key activity will consist of university staff training in teaching and research methodologies before the final implementation of the one-year joint graduate training programme for students and professionals. Here, the university staff will have the opportunity to update their knowledge and techniques and be exposed to international best practice. Mid-career professionals will refresh their specialist knowledge and receive training on the latest international developments.

A concrete result of the project will be improved knowledge and career prospects for students in participating universities. The project will also improve the teaching methodology skills and specialist knowledge of the teaching staff at the universities involved. This will positively impact the research output by these institutions and will drive academic excellence in this area of higher education through exposure to, and advice from, international experts in the field of urban planning and management.

Furthermore, the project will enhance the knowledge of professionals working in planning offices and municipalities to respond to contemporary pressures. It will enable them to establish regional contacts in their field and share best practice with professionals from other countries who face similar economic, social and urbanisation issues.

Most significantly of all, the project will contribute to improving the habitat of the residents of the South Caribbean cities. The public and private institutions involved in the management of the cities in the region will be able to recruit from a larger pool of better qualified graduates. Their staff will also be able to benefit from quality-approved and internationally-recognised training that is regionally tailored to suit the specific circumstances of the Southern Caribbean.

The better-trained workforce and the increased sharing of best practice throughout the region will have a positive impact on the decisions made by these institutions. In turn, it will promote the competitiveness of Southern Caribbean cities in the global economy by providing a better climate for investment, as well as improving the housing for low-income families and the marginalised.

Grant: 193990

Project duration:

36 months (11/01/2008 to 10/01/2011)

EU funding:

EUR 500,000

Total budget:

EUR 613,156

Project contact:

Dr. Bhoendradatt Tewarie
University of the West Indies,
St. Augustine Campus

Tel: 00868 663 2616
Fax: 00868 662 0600

Email: Principal[at]admin.uwi.tt

Project website: Project's website

Factsheet(s):

EN Urban planning.pdf

Jessica Toumson

Assad Mohamed

Kevin Kalloo

Welcome to EDULINK

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… financed by the European Union and Implemented by the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Secretariat, the programme supports cooperative projects between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the ACP Group of States, the EU Member States and other eligible countries. more about EDULINK...