IIHS inspires to take up Urban Planning as Career

The Indian Institute of Human Settlements (IIHS) is a unique education project that is coming up with its first university near Kengeri in Bangalore. The varsity will be having unique curriculum designed by eminent experts in urban planning to nurture talent in the field.

The courses offered at this University will be different and will be focused on real time learning. Until now, the project is estimated to cost about Rs 400 crore.

IIHS aims to hire the best of academicians and professionals in urban planning as the faculty for its university. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University College of London, African Centre for Cities are some of the institutions from where the faculty will be drawn to IIHS. These institutes would also fund IIHS’ university.

India will see eight urban transformations in the coming 20 years and we are not prepared. We do not have skilled professionals to plan cities and town which will have 70 million population, facilities and living conditions. This is where IIHS students will play a key role to bridge the gap between the urban bodies, government and private, agencies and civil society to help inclusive growth.

IIHS also announced the commencement of its Masters programme in Urban Process (MUP). The programme, which begins from January 2012, is open for students and professionals from every field. The fee of the two-year programme is yet to be announced.

IIHS is also starting a seven-day short-term course on “Re-Imagining the World Class City” made open for students from all undergraduate programmes and professionals. The course fee is Rs 15,000 and officials from the state government have shown interest to take up these courses in urban planning.