Town and Regional Planner

For Namibia’s limited resources to be balanced by the unlimited needs, the role of the town and regional planner sets off. The town and regional planner investigates the most beneficial way for the development of a town, taking into consideration the economic and social factors.

Since each region and town has its own unique character and geographical style, the town and regional planner has to identify available resources

and the potential for growth and expansion in each region, distinguishing between the urban and rural setup. Plans must be flexible for new changes without changing the existing fundamental standards and safety.

Job Characteristics

• Creating suitable spaces that are most beneficial to accommodate man and his activities, for example houses, shops and businesses. This should be done, considering the necessary infrastructural network and other facilities, i.e., electricity, water supply, etc..



• Working jointly with specialists and other professionals, such as engineers and architects, to plan and design.



• Acting directly and being involved in management, administration and legal aspects of development.



• Planning and restructuring of already-established settlement patterns.



• Deciding on both regional and national level what development should be taken in hand and how it should be done.



• Identifying and finding the best solutions for problems regarding function and quality of the interior environment of buildings and making necessary designs, drawings and plans.



• Monitoring construction to ensure compliance with specifications.



• Planning and designing the development of land areas for parks, schools, institutions, airports, roadways and related projects and for numerical and residential sites.



• Planning layout and coordinating development of urban and rural areas.

Requirements
 
Secondary Education
Possession of at least a HIGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with matriculation exemption and a pass mark in Mathematics on the higher grade (HIGCSE level), is required for entrance to South African universities. A HIGCSE or outstanding IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, is required to enrol at technikons in South Africa.

The Polytechnic of Namibia requires an IGCSE Grade 12, or equivalent qualification, with at least 25 points on the Polytechnics point evaluation scale.
 
Compulsory subjects
Mathematics, on HIGCSE level (South Africa)
Mathematics and Physical Science (Polytechnic)

Recommended subject
Geography (Polytechnic)

Tertiary Education
Undergraduate and postgraduate training in Town- and Regional planning is offered at some universities in South Africa, like Pretoria Witwatersrand and Potchefstroom. A N. Dip.: Town and Regional Planning is offered at Cape Technikon, ML Sultan andTechnikon Witwatersrand.
 
The Polytechnic of Namibia offers a N. Dip.: Land Management, consisting of four semesters theoretical and two semesters practical training.

Personality
The prospective candidate must be creative and intelligent. The candidate must have good visual and three-dimensional perception and possess qualities such as integrity and objectivity. Fitness and good health are essential.

Work Opportunities
Town and regional planners can work as property planners in regional and municipal planning departments, or as private consultants.

Back