A Sketch of Urban Planning Education in Asia: A Review of Sustainability Related Content and Other Program Elements in Schools of Planning

This chapter delves into the current landscape of urban planning education in Asia, with a particular emphasis on sustainability-related content and other program elements. The study examines eight selected Asian planning schools, all members of the Asian Planning Schools Association (APSA), to understand the disciplinary foundations of planning education programs, the incorporation of sustainability, the presence of planning theory, and the attention given to public participation. The research reveals that while sustainability, planning theory, and public participation are present in modest forms, there is a surprising lack of dedicated courses or degrees focused on these topics. The study also highlights the diversity of planning education programs, which are often influenced by their disciplinary origins and can be housed under various academic purviews such as architecture, engineering, geography, or social sciences. The chapter concludes by discussing the need for a more systematic understanding of planning education in Asia, suggesting that further research should employ multi-method approaches to gain deeper insights into the programming and impacts of these institutions. This preliminary study serves as a pilot for a more comprehensive review, underscoring the importance of knowledge exchange and the development of a guide to planning programs within APSA and beyond.