Urban Research Centre

Welcome

Welcome to the Urban Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney.

The Urban Research Centre aspires to be an international leader in research and teaching initiatives involving cities and urban management. Our approach is interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative. Our methods and data are comprehensive, precise and effective. We take much pride in our work and seek to be known for our quality, creativity and effectiveness.

The centre has as a priority the development of a team of excellent doctoral researchers and the provision of high quality, relevant academic studies in its Master of Urban Management program and associated short courses.

On behalf of the staff of the centre, I invite you to contact us if you have any questions about our research, our courses or the many other activities that make working with us a challenging and exciting experience.

Professor Phillip O'Neill
MA (Hons), Dip Ed, PhD Macq
Director, Urban Research Centre

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About Us

Advancing Knowledge
The Urban Research Centre is ideally located in the geographical, economic and socio-cultural heartland of Sydney - a laboratory to understand the challenges and devise solutions about contemporary urbanisation. The Urban Research Centre undertakes world-class research involving a large team of interdisciplinary, adventurous and engaged academics. The centre has high-level expertise in spatial economic analysis, urban performance indicators, demographic change, innovation studies, policy development and evaluation, community consultation, qualitative and quantitative research techniques, and in the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Research Activity
The Urban Research Centre engages in research relating to Sydney's urban growth, its rapid infrastructure development, its water supply and consumption, public-private partnerships, housing issues, economic development pathways, sustainability and governance. Our staff also bring expertise and interests in corporate power, urban design, innovation, spatial indicators and critical insights into green- and brown-fields developments.

Our research themes are:

• infrastructure
• spatial economic analysis
• urban performance indicators
• mega-urban projects
• sustainable cities
• innovation and employment.

Research Students
Urban Research Centre invites applications from highly motivated graduates to undertake doctoral research in the fields of urban development and management.

Details about admission to the University of Western Sydney's research student program and information about scholarships are available at Research Degrees and Scholarships.

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Courses

Postgraduate
The following postgraduate courses in urban management are available:

• Master of Urban Management
• Graduate Diploma of Urban Management
• Graduate Certificate of Urban Management

Events for 2009

China Tour

Dates: Sunday 5 April 2009 to Wednesday 15 April 2009

Experience the urban pulse of China, visit new developments, transport infrastructure and historic preservation heritage sites, meet relevant government officials, professionals and academics in the field of urban planning and get their insights into current urban issues in China, practice and professional services.

Commencing from Hong Kong, visit Shenzhen, Wuhan, Nanjing and finish in Shanghai the host of the 2010 World EXPO.  The tour will be conducted by two urban experts from the Urban Research Centre. 

For more information and registration

Short Courses for 2009

The centre's short courses provide a mix of theory and practice that extends and updates professional knowledge, skills and judgment for a variety of urban professionals.

The courses are held in the Parramatta CBD or at the Urban Research Centre, 34 Charles St Parramatta unless otherwise advised.

Course Registration fee includes GST, course materials, refreshments and lunches.

Writing Policy Documents (1 day)
19 June

With so much policy making on the run, is writing policy a dying art? This one day workshop outlines the golden rules for good policy writing, provides examples and provides an intensive practice opportunity.

For more information and registration

Planning for Non-Planners (1 Day)
26 June

This one day course will provide non-planners with a robust introduction to the NSW Planning System. The morning will examine the planning process in NSW, who does what and what all the terms and jargon means. It will provide a framework for participants. The afternoon session will examine planning case studies in detail, from lodgement of the application for development through to the final planning approval.  In addition, there will be a question and answer session  where participants will have the opportunity once and for all to demystify the planning system.

For more information and registration

Introduction to Urban Design for Planners (4 days)
25 - 26 June and 9 -10 July

As planners and others in Local Government have been increasingly drawn into discussions concerning Urban Design they are sometimes hampered by a lack of understanding about some key Urban Design concepts. The objective of this short course is to provide an intensive introduction to the discipline of urban design (its key concepts and elements) and a solid, practical, grounding in local area analysis and quality design outcomes, predominantly at the plan making stage, but also at the development assessment stage.

For more information and registration

Urban Governance: Cities, Communities and Workplaces (4 days)
6 - 7 and 13 - 14 August

Governance is a central but often overlooked issue in Urban Management. What is governance? What are the principles of good governance? How can they be extended to all parts of your organisation? How can you audit your own practices? This short course answers these questions, reviews governance practice in urban organisations across the world and provides participants with knowledge about some key governance tools. Participants also get an opportunity as part of the course to prepare a governance audit for an organisation they are familiar with and provide recommendations about how governance in that organization could be improved.

For more information and registration

Planning Law Update (2 days)
27 - 28 August 27-28

The Planning system, in both legal and administrative terms, is constantly under review. For instance, at present (November 2008), major changes to the EP&A Act have been assented to, and are being commenced in stages. Amendments to delegated legislation and Environmental Planning Instruments occur regularly and good administrative practices emerge. The Urban Research Centre (UWS) believes that there is a need for an annual, intensive two-day Short Course for practising Planners on Planning Law and Practice.

For more information and registration

Financing Cities (4 days)
10 - 11 and 17 - 18 September

Financing the large amounts of physical infrastructure required to keep cities running and growing at a time when many governments, who have been the traditional providers of this infrastructure, face financial constraints is a key challenge for urban managers. In order to be able to enter into the debate about financing cities it is important to develop a basic financial literacy and to understand the framework of public finance in Australia and elsewhere. This course undertakes both these tasks as well as providing a rigorous introduction to public private partnerships (PPPs) – seen by many as a key source of infrastructure financing. Lastly, the course undertakes a detailed case study in the economics of development which enables participants to practice their financial skills in a familiar urban context.

For more information and registration

Introduction to Property Development for Planners (2 days)
17 - 18 September

Planners are key stakeholders in the development process but how much do they really understand about the property development process and the economics of property feasibility. This hands on-course uses a Parramatta case study to develop a detailed feasibility study for a development site. It gives planners an opportunity to look at all aspects of  feasibility analysis. The course will involve practitioners involved in the property development process.

For more information and registration

Planning for Non-Planners (1 Day)
25 September

This one day course will provide non-planners with a robust introduction to the NSW Planning System. The morning will examine the planning process in NSW, who does what and what all the terms and jargon means. It will provide a framework for participants. The afternoon session will examine planning case studies in detail, from lodgement of the application for development through to the final planning approval.  In addition, there will be a question and answer session  where participants will have the opportunity once and for all to demystify the planning system.

For more information and registration

Social Impact Assessment: The Essentials (2 days)
29 - 30 October

This short course is for people who want to prepare social impact assessments (SIAs) and for people who need to review SIAs submitted to them. It deals with the role of SIA in land use planning as well as other public policy contexts. It addresses common misconceptions, sources of poor practice, ways to deal with short timeframes and small budgets, ethical issues and standards of good professional practice. The course is a mix of presentation and group learning experiences. A helpful set of course materials and reference list is provided. Participants can also add their names to an Alert list for post-course updates of relevant research material.

For more information and registration

Introduction to Climate Change (1 day) 
20 November

Climate change will have an impact on everything we do. This short course aims to provide an overview of the basic science of climate change, sources of greenhouse gases and the possible impacts of climate change on their work. It will provide a guide about useful information sources and it will examine the implications of climate change for policy  at all levels of Government. It will also examine the implications of climate change for the planning system.

For more information and registration

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Contact Us

Office Location
Level 6, 34 Charles St Parramatta

Postal Address
Urban Research Centre
University of Western Sydney
Level 6, 34 Charles St
Parramatta NSW 2150
Australia

Centre Enquiries
Contact Lesley Hayes

Urban Research Centre Staff
See Staff Directory

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