04 UC/15 MURR revised
UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha
CUAP Proposal-New Qualification/Subject/Endorsement 2015
Section A
Proposal Description
Purpose of the proposal
To introduce a 180-point Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal (MURR) degree.
Justification
We propose to introduce a 180-point Masters in Urban Resilience and Renewal comprising 1.0 EFTS courses plus a 0.5
EFTs project that will be undertaken with community partners.
This proposed degree is designed to help students to understand the physical challenges that many cities around the
world are now facing specifically in low lying coastal areas. These areas are facing challenges associated with flood risk,
coastal erosion and sea level rise. As in many growing areas these are coupled with challenges of urban intensification
as cities strive to grow without spreading. This programme will focus on the urban renewal of Christchurch, a city that
faces many of these issues, but is having to face them immediately as it recovers from the 2010/11 earthquakes that
have seen many physical challenges that normally occur over decades occurring almost overnight (e.g. increased flood
risk). This Masters is designed to be broadly relevant and focus on how communities respond to challenges that cities
are facing today and is not intended to be a planning degree and is not designed to train students to understand the
legal ins and outs of planning law for a particular area. It is also not intended for those wishing to study disaster risk
management1. The Masters will include a strong community engagement focus with students engaging with community
groups and local government not only in the compulsory courses but also through their chosen research project.
While there are many postgraduate degrees that focus on local planning legislation at Universities both internationally
and in New Zealand (e.g. Lincoln University, the University of Otago and the University of Auckland), there is no
identifiable programme that focuses specifically and overtly on how communities respond to some of the key societal
and environmental challenges that cities are facing today, and how communities engage with these debates and
associated processes. As a result this programme should have broad international appeal for students interested in
broader issues of how to address urban issues and engage with communities.
The Masters in Urban Resilience and Renewal fits with the University Strategic Plan: “Improve student recruitment
through focused programmes; develop curricula reflecting societal need and virtual learning; initiating professional
and/or one-year taught masters programmes; implement coordinated…. Strategies with key stakeholder groups…;
improve engagement with CRIs, business and other partners…; work with students and employers ensuring…
employment opportunities…”
The Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal will be part of an suite of 180 point Master’s programmes which draw
upon cutting edge science and social science to explore interactions between physical environments and human
responses, with an overt focus on resilience. These programmes include the (i) Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal
(led by staff from UC Geography) and (ii) the Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience (led by staff from UC Geological
Sciences and Lincoln University). While each of these programmes has separate foci and constituent courses, they share
a thematic engagement with environment-society dynamics and with the issue of resilience. Taken together, these new
Masters programmes will enable staff at the University of Canterbury to make a significant contribution to student (and
thus practitioner) knowledge and understanding of the way in which environment-society dynamics connect to issues of
risk and resilience. The programmes will together make a strong contribution to the knowledge base of graduates who
we anticipate will go onto careers including environmental management, disaster risk reduction, hazard management,
environmental consulting, and local and regional government.
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Students wishing to study disaster risk management would be better suited enrolling in UC’s proposed Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience.
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04 UC/15 MURR revised
The title of the proposed degree reflects the focus on urban. The required courses focus on urban resilience and
renewal. The community engagement course also occurs in an urban setting.
Qualification
This qualification meets the CUAP definition of a Master’s degree. 60 points (0.50 EFTS) will be at level 9. A minimum B
grade is required for entry to the programme.
Acceptability of the programme and consultation
Consultation is has taken place within the University of Canterbury; including all College of Science departments, the
School of Social and Political Sciences, UC Library Liaison and the office of the AVC Maori; and outside the University of
Canterbury including other universities with planning and related relevant programs (Lincoln, Auckland, Otago and
VUW), local government and community groups. The primary change to the proposal as a result of the consultation was
to make the community engagement course a stand-alone course. This highlighted the distinctiveness of the
programme and the connection with urban community.
Treaty of Waitangi
Urban Resilience and Renewal projects will be relevant to Māori cultures, will, incorporate cultural content. The stated
programme outcomes are consistent with the Treaty Principles of Participation, Partnership and Protection. Detailed
and very productive discussions have taken place with Liz Brown, Kaiārahi Māori for the College of Science and the
Office of the AVC (Māori). Māori, specifically Ngāi Tahu, are key in the urban renewal of Christchurch (as evidenced by
their role as key signatories of all the Recovery Plans). A key part of this is the Mahaanui Iwi Management Plan (IMP)
2013, which is a framework for Ngāi Tahu’s values in local decision making and the Council is required to account for it
when preparing or amending the District Plan. This will be a key resource in the MURR. In addition, Nigel Harris of UC’s
Office of the AVC Māori, is also on Te Ope Matapopore, the Ngāi Tūāhuriri earthquake recovery steering group. He will
provide expertise to the course including presenting on Ngāi Tahu’s perspectives on urban resilience and renewal in
workshops. By doing this the MURR will “provide leadership in developing research which is collaborative with Māori”
and “will develop learning objectives which support cultural confidence and competence in graduates”; two areas of
development identified in UC’s Rautaki Whakawhanake Kaupapa Māori 2012 Strategy for Māori Development.
Goals of the programme
The goals of the Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal are to:
1. Develop and enhance students’ understanding of the impact of the physical environment on urban resilience
and renewal
2. Foster a critical appreciation of key urban resilience and renewal issues and policies
3. Develop students’ ability to undertake research on topic related to urban resilience and renewal
4. Provide students with the opportunity to gain experience in analysing links between urban problems and
solutions,
5. Provide students with the opportunity to analyse and critique strategies for urban renewal
6. Provide students with the opportunity to apply these learnings in real world research problems working with
local communities and/or organisations.
Outcome statement
Graduates from the programme will be knowledgeable and skilled in understanding some of the key challenges cities
face, and be aware of how cities can respond to these challenges. Graduates will have an appreciation of the range of
contexts, processes and actors that constitute urban environments. They will have the appropriate attitudes, skills and
knowledge to be employed professionally in any organisation involved in urban resilience and renewal; some of the
most important skills acquired will be the ability to learn independently, and to communicate effectively.
University graduate characteristics and Qualification graduate profile
Graduates from the Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal programme will be:
1. Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their degree by:
a. obtaining advanced knowledge and skills in a subject area related to urban resilience and renewal and
the student’s own area of specialism
b. demonstrating the ability to intellectually analyse and critique urban issues
c. being knowledgeable about issues relating to urban resilience and renewal.
2. Employable, innovative and enterprising by:
a. having experience in the planning, execution and reporting of original research
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b. being able to acquire new skills and knowledge and using them effectively and professionally
3. Biculturally competent and confident by:
a. fostering the unique relationship we have with Māori and supporting common interests related to
Urban Resilience and Renewal.
b. strengthening and supporting collaboration for mutual benefit through understanding biculturalism and
incorporating these values into urban decision making.
c. increasing cultural confidence and its relationship with the wider scientific community.
4. Engaged with the community by:
a. working for community/organisational partner on a research problem they have helped identify
b. By partnering with local organisations, graduates will go on to be influential and make a significant
difference to the communities they live in.
5. Globally aware by:
a. understanding contemporary national and international perspectives on urban resilience and renewal
b. having been exposed to, and having respect for, different world views and perspectives on urban issues.
Programme overview
The programme comprises 120 pts (1.0 EFTS) taught over two 12-week semesters plus a project. Three of the courses
worth 30 points (0.25 EFTS) each are compulsory (GEOG 402 Resilient Cities, GEOG 409 Coasts and Rivers: from natural
processes to urban environments and GEOG415 Internship) with the remaining 30 points (0.25 EFTS) taken from 400level courses in which the student has specific interests (examples of the type of course students may take are shown
later in this proposal). The project GEOG 692 comprises an individual project in the field of urban resilience and renewal
carried out by the student under the supervision of one or more staff members. The project will involve the student
working with a community partner (which will build on the GEOG 415 Internship) on a project of direct relevance and
real value to that community partner. The coherence of the whole programme for each individual student is assessed by
the Programme Director prior to confirmation.
There is no limitation of entry of to this programme.
Proposed teaching/delivery methods
GEOG402 Resilient Cities and GEOG409 Coasts and Rivers: from natural processes to urban environments are both
semester 1 courses, GEOG415 Internship is a semester 2 course. They will be taught as they currently are. The remaining
30 points of taught courses will come from Semester 2. The 60 point project is a supervised project carried out with a
community partner and will start in Semester 2. It will build on the GEOG415 Internship. Working with a community
partner is a key aspect of this project and a major part of the learning in this Masters. Not only does it provide the
learning associated with an in depth piece of research but it also affords the student the significant learning associated
with communicating and working with a community partner on a project that has real value and will be used.
Prescriptions for courses
GEOG402 Resilient Cities
This course explores the contemporary and pressing issue of urban development. The course focuses on geographical
issues related to urban planning for resource use and infrastructure, including energy use, transport networks and green
development. It includes a focus on the growing need for cities to be resilient to the many challenges they face. The
course includes an applied and practical element, conducted in collaboration with local government officials and
communities.
GEOG 409 Coasts and Rivers: from natural processes to urban environments. Semester 1. 0.2500 EFTS .
This course explores coastal and fluvial geomorphic processes and how they interact with urban environments.
Understanding these processes is essential for effective resource and environmental management, as well as for
building resilient settlements. Core topics will include river and coastal geomorphology; hydrology and hydrodynamics;
flooding from coastal, fluvial and pluvial sources; catchment processes; river mouth environments; sea level rise;
theoretical and numerical modelling; human use of coasts and rivers; and laboratory and research methods in coastal
and river science. Examples will be drawn from New Zealand, the Pacific, and worldwide.
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GEOG 415 Internship.
Semester 2. 0.2500 EFTS.
This course allows Geography students to apply their discipline specific skills within business, government, industry and
non-profit organisations while gaining work-related experience.
The only new course in this degree is:
GEOG 692 Project
0.5 EFTS
P: Subject to the approval of the Programme Director, Department of Geography
GEOG 692-15CY(C) 1 July 2016-1March 2017”
Examples of semester 2 courses offered at UC that a MURR student might take
HAZM403 Hazard and Disaster Investigation (0.125 EFTS)
GEOG404 Resource and Environmental Management in NZ (0.25 EFTS)
ENTR612 Transport Policy and System Management (0.125 EFTS)
ENTR614 Planning and Design of Sustainable Transport Engineering (0.125 EFTS)
STAT447 Official Statistics (0.125 EFTS)
ENVR411 Case Studies in Environmental Science (0.125 EFTS)
WATR403 Water Management, Policy and Planning (0.125 EFTS)
Note: The above list merely provides examples of courses a MURR student may take for the additional 0.25 EFTS required for the
MURR. Some of these courses may be subject to individual pre-requisites. Students may take other 400-level courses subject to
approval of the Programme Director.
Assessment and moderation procedures
Assessment of the courses will be by way of assignment reports staged through the semester to ensure that students
are completing and understanding material that they are working on from afar, and a final examination may be required
for some of the courses.
Resources
The programme will require no additional resources in the Geography Department beyond the usual extra
administration of having additional students.
Plans for monitoring programme quality
The degree will be subject to a Graduating Year Review, student course surveys and the Departmental Staff Committee.
Review of the programme
The new degree will be added to the University Programme Reviews Schedule.
Statement re Section B
Section B has been prepared and is available on request.
For New Qualifications – TEC/NZQA/UNZ Requirements
EFTS value of qualification
180 points (1.5 EFTS)
NZSCED code
12 (Mixed field programmes)
1299 (Mixed field programmes not elsewhere classified)
NZQA exit level of qualification to go on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework: Level 9
Statement regarding funding: The proposed programme meets the criteria to be fully funded at postgraduate level.
Memorandum of understanding: NA
Calendar Form
New Qualification Regulations
UC Calendar 2015
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04 UC/15 MURR revised
p. 24 insert “Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal: 10 January:”
p. 38 Fee Band 3 (see Part B)
p. 437 before The Degree of Master of Water Resources Management (MWaterRM) ADD THIS SECTION:
The Degree of Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal (MURR)
See also General Course and Examination Regulations
1. Qualifications Required to Enrol in the Degree
Every candidate for the degree of Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal (MURR), before applying to enrol in the
degree, shall have:
(a) qualified for a university degree which is relevant to urban resilience and renewal (e.g. geography,
environmental science/studies, planning, sociology or any other relevant degree subject to approval of the
Programme Director and/or Dean of Science); and
(b) normally at least 90 points/ 0.75 EFTS in relevant 300-level courses from the schedule passed with a grade
average that meets the approval of the Programme Director (the normal requirement is at least a B grade
average); and
(c) been approved as a candidate for the degree by the Dean of Science
2. Admission to the Degree
Students planning to complete a Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal must apply for admission to the degree
programme. Applications for admission must be received by the Department of Geography on the prescribed form no
later than 30 January in the year of desired entry. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that an up-to-date
official academic record is sent to the Department of Geography as soon as it is available. Students must also Apply to
Enrol.
3. Structure of the Degree
To qualify for the Degree of Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal a candidate must complete:
(a) Three required courses as listed in Regulation 6(a)
(b) Approved courses totalling 0.25 EFTS
(c) A Project (GEOG 692).
4. Full Time/Part-time Enrolment
A candidate may be enrolled for the degree of Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal either on a full-time or part-time
basis. A candidate may, because of employment, health, family or other reasons, enrol part-time with the approval of
the Dean of Science.
5. Duration of the Programme
A candidate should normally follow a course of study of between 12 and 24 months.
6. Requirements for Courses
(a) The coursework shall comprise:
i. GEOG 402, GEOG 409 and GEOG415
ii. Other courses totalling 0.25 EFTS at 400-level, approved by the Programme Director.
iii. A 0.5 EFTS Project (GEOG 692)
(b) Candidates must satisfy the Programme Director that they have the necessary prerequisite knowledge to
undertake the proposed courses from the schedule.
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(c) Students can only fail up to 0.25 EFTS, and must pass the repeated papers within the following year. Enrolment
in an alternative course in its place will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances and requires a
recommendation from the Programme Director and the permission of the Dean of Science.
(d) A candidate who fails any course and is not successful under Regulation 6(c) will be awarded a Certificate of
Proficiency for each course passed.
Note: Practical and fieldwork may be required as part of any course.
7. Award of Masters with Distinction or Merit
The Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal may be awarded with Distinction or Merit.
Note: The award of Distinction indicates a grade point average of 7.0 or greater; the award of merit indicates a grade
point average of 6.0-6.9.
8. Requirements for the Project (GEOG 692, 0.5 EFTS)
(a) The project shall embody the results of an investigation in a subject area approved by the Programme Director.
(b) If the consensus at the final examination is that the project be awarded a failing grade, the degree of Master of
Urban Resilience and Renewal shall not be awarded.
p. 665
Insert: “GEOG 692 Project 0.5000 EFTS
P: Subject to the approval of the Programme Director, Department of Geography
GEOG 692-16CY(C) 1 July 2016-1March 2017”
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