Outline

Overview

The aim of PLAN9063 Strategic Planning and Design is to provide students with grounding in the core knowledge and skills needed to practice as a contemporary planner. A key emphasis in the unit is understanding the skills needed to undertake strategic planning at a range of levels (both process and content). Strategic planning in one form or other is a generic process that underpins much of the work that planners and urban designers are involved in at varying spatial levels. This course will provide students with the basic skills required to function as a planner and it will also act as an introduction to a number of other units in the program by highlighting the connection between the work of a planner and the need to understand a range of different knowledge and skill areas. Basic skills may include basic demographic analysis, graphic presentation, governance audits, consultation strategies and survey tools, economic analysis, and GIS. In addition, this Unit of Study will enable students to develop generic skills such as group discussion, productive group work and organisation, negotiation skills and information literacy skills. This is an introductory core unit for the Urban Planning degree, a specialisation unit for the Master of Urbanism and an elective for the Urban Design degree.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jennifer Kent, jennifer.kent@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Practical skill	Land-use Survey for Strategic Planning Produce a land use survey of the quality to inform a strategic plan.	30%	Week 04 Due date: 17 Mar 2026 at 23:59	10 pages, 1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Case studies	Evaluating Strategic Plans Skill development assessment for observation of strategic issues.	40%	Week 10 Due date: 05 May 2026 at 23:59	10 pages, 1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Strategic Planning Issues Presentation and description of a specific strategic planning issue. See Canvas site for details.	30%	Week 13 Due date: 27 May 2026 at 11:00 Closing date: 27 May 2026	2 mins plus 500 word summary	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Attendance: Students should be present and engaged in their learning during classes. Late arrival/early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who do not meet the minimum 90% threshold, who have approved special consideration may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Unit Introduction Acknowledging Bias	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 01	Acknowledging bias in plan making through observing ourselves observing	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 02	Getting Started on the Seven Steps for Strategic Planning	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Land Use Surveys	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Evidence and Direction Setting	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	The Data Sandbox	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Draft plans and Exhibition Climate change	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Climate change reading masterclass and Assignment 2 group set up	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Consultation and Politics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Community Consultation Role Play 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Refinement and Delivery Typologies	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Community Consultation Role Play 2	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Introduction to Strategic Planning Issues Health and Strategic Planning	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Neighbourhood Health Audit	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Case Study: Sydney/Melbourne Transport and Strategic Planning	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Group working check in and charters	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Case Study: SEQ Housing and Strategic Planning	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	The Housing Trade-Off Game – Designing a Strategic Housing Plan for Wilkinsontown	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	Case Study: The USA Strategic Planning and the Economy	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Economic Sector Trade- offs: Land Use Diagnosis	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Case Study: China Strategic Planning and Climate Change	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	The Blue Green Deck – Utopia and Influence	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Strategic Planning for Country	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Revisiting steps and issues based on student feedback	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Presentation overflow	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Assignment 3 - student presentations	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at lectures is compulsory as per the rules of the School, which state:

A student enrolled in a unit of study must comply with the requirements set out in the unit of study outline about undertaking the unit of study. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Head of School and Dean, Associate Dean Education or relevant Unit Coordinator. The Head of School and Dean, Associate Dean Education or relevant Unit Coordinator may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items when attendance is lower than 90%.

Part 3, Section 8, Clause 3.

Rules aside, you will get the most out of this course and your studies in general if you show up to class - we are looking forward to seeing you.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

This Unit has a primary text - Planning Better Cities by Adjunct Associate Professor, Halvard Dalheim. The text is available online via the Library and we will work through it chapter by chapter. Halvard will also be delivering some lecture content and is ready to answer questions. In addition to this text there will be readings weekly as outlined on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate an understanding of “strategic planning” at various scales
LO2. identify and articulate the skills needed to undertake strategic planning and demonstrate developing skills
LO3. demonstrate the ability to undertake critical analysis
LO4. identify and review peer-reviewed literature and apply that to contemporary strategic planning considerations
LO5. identify the main players in the planning process
LO6. identify and articulate the strategic planning methods and impacts
LO7. demonstrate an ability to work effectively in groups.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - A.f. Think strategically and apply planning concepts, skills and knowledge in a range of spatial settings; B.2.3. Knowledge and theories of urban and regional planning and environmental planning and design, including but not restricted to principles of land use, urban form, infrastructure systems, ecological systems, global trends and emerging issues, climate change, transport, the integration of land use and transport, heritage conservation, landscape and human settlement patterns. B.2.4. Knowledge of the main types of plan-making processes and implementation techniques including strategic planning, statutory planning, urban design and place-making together with the capacity to select appropriate processes and implementation methods according to the scale and circumstance of intervention.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - B.1.10. Capacity to apply theoretical and technical planning skills to unfamiliar or emergent circumstances, even with incomplete information. B.1.11. Capacity to communicate in written, oral, and graphical form about planning issues, development proposals and actions via a range of media to various audiences in a manner appropriate to the situation. B.1.9. Capacity to apply and develop planning knowledge to identify problems, devise ways to investigate and solve these problems drawing on research-based evidence, and producing solutions as the basis for appropriate action.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - B.1.9. Capacity to apply and develop planning knowledge to identify problems, devise ways to investigate and solve these problems drawing on research-based evidence, and producing solutions as the basis for appropriate action. B.2.2. Knowledge of planning theories and capacity to critically apply these theories when undertaking planning, including theories that recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and Indigenous peoples’ rights, interests, laws, perspectives and knowledge systems.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - B.2.2. Knowledge of planning theories and capacity to critically apply these theories when undertaking planning, including theories that recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and Indigenous peoples’ rights, interests, laws, perspectives and knowledge systems. B.2.3. Knowledge and theories of urban and regional planning and environmental planning and design, including but not restricted to principles of land use, urban form, infrastructure systems, ecological systems, global trends and emerging issues, climate change, transport, the integration of land use and transport, heritage conservation, landscape and human settlement patterns.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - A.j. Operate in a manner that recognises the position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of Australia, the relationship of those peoples to planning practice in historical and contemporary terms; and compliance to the maximum extent possible with accepted international standards of best practice working with Indigenous communities; B.1.11. Capacity to communicate in written, oral, and graphical form about planning issues, development proposals and actions via a range of media to various audiences in a manner appropriate to the situation. B.2.6. Knowledge of the main processes and forms of governance relevant to planning and of the influence of politics upon these, and the related capacity to design and implement workable and democratic participatory processes in association with communities and other stakeholders.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - A.f. Think strategically and apply planning concepts, skills and knowledge in a range of spatial settings; B.1.10. Capacity to apply theoretical and technical planning skills to unfamiliar or emergent circumstances, even with incomplete information. B.1.9. Capacity to apply and develop planning knowledge to identify problems, devise ways to investigate and solve these problems drawing on research-based evidence, and producing solutions as the basis for appropriate action. B.2.4. Knowledge of the main types of plan-making processes and implementation techniques including strategic planning, statutory planning, urban design and place-making together with the capacity to select appropriate processes and implementation methods according to the scale and circumstance of intervention.
	Policy for the accreditation of Australian planning qualifications - B.1.11. Capacity to communicate in written, oral, and graphical form about planning issues, development proposals and actions via a range of media to various audiences in a manner appropriate to the situation.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In 2025, we had very useful feedback from students regarding the things that they appreciated and things they were left wondering about. One of these was having guest lectures, which we will have again in 2026 - as much as enabled by the School. Assessment 1 has been modified this year to allow students to develop the specific skill of doing a land use survey. In addition, students requested that assignments be better distrbuted through the semester, and we have done this.

Additional information

Additional costs

Students may be required to visit sites in Sydney. Travel costs will be borne by the students.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PLAN9063: Strategic Planning and Design

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links