The University of Aberdeen’s Department of Land Economy is the first Department in Scotland and only one of two in Europe to offer dual professional qualifications in surveying and planning
This significant achievement follows accreditation visits by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
This builds on the Department’s success in the last Research Assessment Exercise when it was acclaimed joint top land economy school in the UK and top rated planning school in Scotland. In recent years it has attracted further high quality staff and enhanced its international reputation as a centre of research distinction.
Commenting on the accreditation, University of Aberdeen Principal, C Duncan Rice said: “I am delighted with the accreditation. Whilst this clearly gives our University competitive advantage, it is a further endorsement of our teaching and research distinction.”
Head of Department, Professor David Adams welcomed the news: “I am enormously pleased and proud that we have achieved accreditation from the two major professional bodies in our subject area. Land Economy staff have worked hard over the past two years, improving the degree courses and stepping up teaching quality. It is a testament to their commitment, as well as the enthusiastic attitude of ours students, that we have been awarded this unique distinction.
“This is a significant advantage for our students since it means that they will not only graduate from the University after four years with their degree but they will be able to apply for full membership of the RICS and RTPI following a period in professional practice.
“The recent Urban Task Force Report by Lord Rogers supported a multi-professional approach to managing our built and natural environments, and we are delighted that our University will be at the cutting-edge of urban and rural professional education.”
Students are offered the unique opportunity to specialise in urban or rural surveying and/or planning matters. The inherent flexibility in the Bachelor of Land Economy degree programme reflects the new challenge facing the surveying and planning professions.
Professor Adams added: “There is no doubt that our degrees, coupled with this dual accreditation, enable our students to enter the profession more quickly than would otherwise be possible.”
Graduates can enter careers in Chartered Surveying, Rural Estate Management, planning consultancy, Local Authorities, environmental organisations as well as property and business management.
RICS accreditation covers the following courses:
Bachelor of Land Economy in Urban Surveying, Rural Surveying, Rural Surveying and Planning and Urban Surveying and Planning;
BSc in Marine Resource Management in Marine and Fisheries Management, Marine Environmental Management and Marine and Coastal Planning
Masters/Diploma of Land Economy in Urban Surveying and Rural Surveying
Accreditation by the RTPI covers the Bachelor of Land Economy Honours Course in Planning, Urban Surveying and Planning and Rural Surveying and Planning.
Further information from Professor David Adams, Tel: 01224 273692