Learning Outcomes

TopAn unprecedented level of urbanization is expected worldwide, presenting immense resource challenges as well as opportunities for cities. It is critical that the future city leaders learn from urban pioneers and case examples, to gain insights into the urban development challenges of cities, and to make informed decisions based on the principles and practice of dynamic urban governance. Singapore is an example of a very dense city that is also highly liveable. The module will therefore focus on Singapore, analysed through the lens on the Liveability Framework, and brought to life by experts in various fields of urban development.

Syllabus

Top

PP5142
Liveable and Sustainable Cities – A Singapore Case Study

INSTRUCTOR

Mr Khoo Teng Chye
Adjunct Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore Executive Director, Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC)
Email: khoo_teng_chye@mnd.gov.sg

COURSE MANAGER

Mr David Ee (main contact)
Manager, Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC) Email: david_ee@mnd.gov.sg

MODULE DESCRIPTION

The world is urbanising at an unprecedented rate. Already, more than half the world’s population lives in cities. This is expected to increase to 70% by 2050. Cities are likely to determine the future sustainability of the world. If planned and run well, cities are excellent spaces for civil and economic advancement, sustainability, efficiency and diversity. If uncoordinated or unadaptable, cities suffer from resource or access constraints and will eventually lose their liveability, and worse – become places of social inequality.
This course draws on the Centre for Liveable Cities’ (CLC) research and analyses of Singapore’s urban development journey, as well as that of other cities worldwide, seen through the lens of the Singapore Liveability Framework.
CLC’s Urban Systems Studies (USS) form the core of the first half of the course. These in-depth studies document Singapore’s development in various urban systems. They seek to answer two questions: First, how has Singapore transformed itself into a highly liveable city within the last five decades? Second, how can Singapore build on its urban development experience to create knowledge and urban solutions for current and future challenges faced by cities? A unique feature of CLC’s research is that it draws on the knowledge of Singapore’s urban pioneers. This provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by cities as they urbanise. For the upcoming 2019 semester, students will get the opportunity to hear from Singapore’s industry leaders, such as CEOs of public agencies, as well as experts and practitioners who were directly involved in Singapore’s urban development journey.
The second half of the course turns its focus onto how cities are tackling their ongoing and future urban challenges, examining efforts by Singapore and other cities including Suzhou, New York City, Seoul, Amaravati, Colombo, Bilbao, Medellin and Melbourne. Many cities face similar urban development and governance challenges. For example, managing disruptive technologies, changing demographics, climate change, and population and density growth.
By the end of the course, using the Singapore Liveability Framework as reference, students are expected to have acquired sound knowledge of the principles and practices central to the development of a liveable city. This is intended to equip them well to apply this knowledge in their respective fields of work. Classes are structured to be interactive. Students are expected to read the assigned reading materials beforehand, and to contribute actively to class and online discussions.

MODULE OUTLINE

Week	Date and Time	Topic(s)
1	14 Jan 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Introduction: Singapore Liveability Framework (Liveable City Outcomes & Systems) Integrated Master Planning & Development, Dynamic Urban Governance Urban Redevelopment, Land Framework & Acquisition, Built by Singapore
2	21 Jan 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Liveable City Outcomes: Quality of Life Housing, Transport, Arts & Culture, Food Security Guest speaker: Mr Fong Chun Wah [Deputy CEO (Building)], Housing & Development Board (HDB)]
3	26 Jan 2019 (Sat) 9am – 12pm	Liveable City Outcomes: Sustainable Environment Cleaning a Nation, Water, Biodiversity Guest speaker: Mr Loh Ah Tuan [Former Director-General for Environmental Protection, National Environment Agency (NEA)]
4	28 Jan 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Liveable City Outcomes: Competitive Economy Port, Industrial Infrastructure, Tourism, Smart Nation, Energy Guest speaker: Mr Tan Chong Meng [Group CEO, PSA International]
5	11 Feb 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Dynamic Urban Governance (con’td) Financing a City, Community & Stakeholders
6	18 Feb 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	*Learning Journey:* Singapore River Guest speaker: Mr Loh Ah Tuan [Former Director-General for Environmental Protection, National Environment Agency (NEA)]
Recess Week
7	4 Mar 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Tackling Singapore’s Urban Challenges: Liveability with Density City in Nature, Car-lite Mobility, Urban Regeneration Guest speaker: Dr Leong Chee Chiew [Deputy CEO and Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, National Parks Board (Nparks)]
8	11 Mar 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Tackling Singapore’s Urban Challenges: Changing Demographics Ageing Society, Increasing Diversity Guest speaker: Ms Elaine Tan [Deputy Director, Centre for Liveable Cities]
9	18 Mar 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Tackling Singapore’s Urban Challenges: Technology & Climate Change Smart Nation, Complexity Science, Resilience Guest speaker: Prof Tan Yong Soon, [Former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources]
10	25 Mar 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	*Learning Journey:* Punggol New Town Guest speaker: Mr Alan Tan, [Former Director (Building Research Institute), Housing & Development Board (HDB)]
11	6 Apr 2019 (Sat) 9am – 12pm	City Case Studies: Asia
12	8 Apr 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	City Case Studies: Rest of the World
13	15 Apr 2019 (Mon) 2 – 5pm	Group Presentations and Closing Lecture
Reading Week

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the course, students will:

Understand the Centre for Liveable Cities’ Singapore Liveability Framework, which distils the experiences, principles and goals behind Singapore’s urban development over the last 50 years.

Understand the factors that led to Singapore’s urban transformation trajectory, and how Singapore addressed the trade-offs and challenges.
Understand that alongside physical infrastructure, the underlying systems are just as important in creating liveable and sustainable cities.
Be able to examine a city and evaluate it through the lens of the Singapore Liveability Framework, and to hence be better equipped to make informed decisions in their own fields of work.

ASSESSMENT

You will be assessed based on the following criteria:

Assessment	Weightage (%)
1) Class Participation	20
2) Weekly Presentation	20
3) Forum Discussion	20
4) Group Presentation and Report	40
Total	100

Class Participation

Students must come prepared for class by reading the compulsory material listed, and expecting to be called upon to contribute to discussions. Participation will be assessed in terms of:

Frequency – how often the student participates in class discussions; and
Quality – the extent to which the student’s contribution adds value to the topic of discussion, demonstrating that they have understood and reflected on the readings, as well as gone further to think critically about the subject.

Weekly Group Presentation

Students will form groups of 2 to 3 members and be assigned to present at the start of each session. Students will present a summary of the topic of the day based on the assigned readings and online discussions. Questions will be posted on the online forum a week before each session to begin and encourage online discussions.

Online Forum Discussion

The platform for the online forum discussion is the IVLE. Questions will be posted online, and students can participate in the discussion within a specific timeframe.

Group Presentation and Report: Application of Singapore Liveability Framework to a City

Students will be asked to form groups and complete a group assignment and presentation based on the following assessment question:

How can lessons from the Singapore Liveability Framework

be applied to a particular city to help that city achieve sustainable urban development?
Each group should choose a city (other than Singapore), discuss the current and future urban challenges that city faces, and propose recommendations for that city based on the Singapore Liveability Framework and any other lessons you have learned from this module.

Each group should consist of 4 to 5 students. There will be two components to this assessment:

a 20-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session, to be held during the final class for the semester (15 Apr 2019);and
an accompanying written report (2,000 wordlimit)

The group presentation will take place during class on 15 Apr 2019. The group report must be submitted by the end of that week (i.e. by 19 Apr 2019), after taking into account feedback received during the presentation.

READINGS

Students are expected to read the compulsory assigned reading materials for the topics to be covered each week. The compulsory and assigned readings for each week will be uploaded on IVLE.

ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR LIVEABLE CITIES (CLC)

Set up in 2008 by the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Centre for Liveable Cities’ (CLC) mission is “to distil, create and share knowledge on liveable and sustainable cities”. CLC’s work spans four main areas – Research, Capability Development, Knowledge Platforms, and Advisory. Through these activities, CLC hopes to provide urban leaders and practitioners with the knowledge and support needed to make our cities better.

Workload

Top3-0-0-3-4

Workload Components : A-B-C-D-E
A: no. of lecture hours per week
B: no. of tutorial hours per week
C: no. of lab hours per week
D: no. of hours for projects, assignments, fieldwork etc per week
E: no. of hours for preparatory work by a student per week