TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AT BRITISH UNIVERSITIES. SINO-BRITISH HIGHWAYS AND URBAN TRAFFIC CONFERENCE. PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE CONFERENCE HELD IN BEIJING 17TH-22ND NOVEMBER 1986

This paper discusses the courses on transportation planning, provided by British universities and polytechnics. Although these courses reflect the particular circumstances of the United Kingdom, they provide basic training that is suitable for transport planners in all parts of the world. British universities and polytechnics offer 22 degree and diploma courses in the general area of transport, including: (1) transport operations and planning; (2) transport management; (3) transport economics; (4) transport and traffic engineering. There are also a few courses in specialist aspects of transport, such as international maritime freight. Details are given of a typical course for a degree in transport operation and planning. All courses in transportation planning include modules on transport economics and on the application of mathematical and statistic methods. The teaching methods used in British transport planning courses share many common features, but variations in the level of detail of study are found in many subject areas. Two major educational problems that arise in deciding course content are discussed: (1) how much is taught of subjects outside transport planning that are important for transport planners? (2) what level of detail is chosen for teaching specialist topics within transport planning? The skills gained by students of transport planning equip them for careers in central and local government, transport consultancies, public transport, and the management of distribution. (TRRL)