Academic Curriculum
Background
In West Bengal Preparation of Draft Development Plan (DDP) by the municipalities is a manadatory function as per The West Bengal Municipal Act 1993. Urban Local Bodies are given professionals for urban planning works. Due to unavailability of professional planners they are trained as per the module and given the responsibility of completing this.
Urban Management Centre took the responsibility and role of coordination between Government of West Bengal and Institute of Town Planners India to arrange designed course for them. They will become AITP, which is equivalent to Masters In Urban Planning.
The Course
From the year 2007 the centre started this one and half year academic Course on AITP (Equivalent to Masters in Urban Planning) for the working Professionals in the Urban Local Bodies of West Bengal. The course is recognized by The Institute of Town Planners India (ITPI) and supported by The Change Management Unit. This will be a semi DLM course consisting regular classes, examinations, assignment, studio works and thesis in the last semester.
Status
Presently 30 students are enrolled and the classes will start in the end of August 2007. The necessary financial support for the classes is being given by the CMU, Municipal Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal. Module for the first stage will be for three weeks and for the successive stages will be two weeks.The course is unique in its character to start such a course and help the government directly.