Integrating Information Technology in Planning Education: Meeting the Urbanization Challenges of the Information Age

As China enters the New-type Urbanization (2021-2035), Big Data in urbanization have posed significant challenges to traditional planning. The requirements of planning talents have transformed along with the information technology applied in planning practices. Planning is an applied discipline which should address urban concerns. This paper aims to provide a vision for future planning education in China in the Information Age and shed insight into the essential competencies required in job markets in the next stage. Taking the Yangtze River Delta as an example, one of the most developed areas in China, by the survey of job posting sites and faculties at target planning schools in this area, this paper examines the supply and demand of planning talents to explore whether current planning education could provide competitive planning talents to meet the urbanization development needs. It is expected that some findings from this study will inform the further evolution of China’s planning education, including designing a curriculum that incorporates data analysis skills, building an urban information knowledge base for systematic qualitative analysis, enhancing computer modelling and simulation in teaching and learning practice, and applying interdisciplinary knowledge to planning practice. Some of these discussions and findings may inform planning education in China and thereby benefit the New-type Urbanization in 2021-2035.