PICT Local Site

1. Introduction - Justification

Modern European towns and cities are confronted by a variety of problems and pressures which need to be tackled by enlightened architecture and planning. During the 1990s a series of EC reports have helped to shape the urban agenda, starting from the Green Paper on the Urban Environment in 1990 and culminating with the European Spatial Development Perspective and the Urban Agenda Report in 1997. The emerging new European thinking places the citizen firmly at the centre of policy making, adopting a new citizen-centred "planning culture". Concern internationally is highlighted by the activities of the European Council of Town Planners in defining the 'New Charter of Athens' regarding Principles for Planning Cities-10 commandments for effective participation (www.ceu-ectp.org).

Planning has lagged behind other fields, and failed, in effective public involvement in decision making and accountability, resulting in failed policies which did not address local needs . The establishment of open democratic processes require architects and planners to develop special skills and competencies. Besides, the advent of the Information Society has provided the means for innovative, much more effective and wide ranging communication with the citizen, using a home PC, rendering the citizen's participation in the planning process more meaningful and direct. Participation dialogue will be subject to the new guidance regarding e-governance. For example, all UK governmental processes must be available electronically by 2005 . The public, and particularly planners, are anxious for support and help to deal with these new electronic processes.

2. Aims and objectives

The PICT project aims to develop innovative ICT training for communities and professional planners to help them handle the requirements of e-governance and in particular to serve the participation process. The objectives of the project include the diagnosis of the training needs of planners and the public through empirical research; the active involvement of the local communities of the participating areas through the establishment of local partnerships to monitor and animate the project activities; the delivery of training through alternative IT media and the comparison of results; the networking of professionals, academics and community groups to encourage wide use of the project products and transferability to other areas; the cross-fertilisation of experience and expertise between the partners and the participating countries in general; and the validation of the acquired skills through the participating universities.

3. Activities and outcomes

The project activities and corresponding outcomes include:

1. A review of public involvement theory and practice, including methods facilitating the public's involvement and interaction with collaborative decision making concerning the built and natural environment and review of 'Best Practice' at European level
2. Diagnosis, through empirical research, of the learning needs of planners and members of local communities in the pilot areas in relation to public participation and the use of ICT technology.
3. Creation of a training package, addressed to professional planners and a parallel package addressed to the public. Both packages will be web site based, delivered by distance learning techniques and tutorials, validated and accredited . The development of a professional post-qualification on the subject, with ECTP support, will be considered.
4. Establishment of collaborative structures in each pilot area, in the form of Local Consultative Committees, which will bring together representatives of the local residents, entrepreneurs and community groups to manage the learning process on behalf of the community and liaise with teachers, planners and experts involved in the learning process.
5. Technological development and maintenance of a central project web site, supporting the transfer of project material to the local web sites in each participating country, as part of a project web-network, which will develop the technological means for interactive involvement of the public.
6. Pilot testing the teaching packages in situ by planners and community members.
7. Establishment of a wider network of academics, professional planners and voluntary associations committed to public participation, to encourage the wider application of the methodology and tools developed by the project, adding value to the project results.
8. Establishment in each country and transnationally for the duration of the project, of a "task force" to offer advice and practical help to individuals and institutions which wish to take advantage of the training package; and to evaluate the results and provide feedback.
9. Compilation of a Public Involvement Guide of Good Practice, presenting the experience of the project and characteristic examples of best practice from other European regions.
10. Wide dissemination of the project results through three components: firstly conferencing, electronic and actual; secondly networking of planners, academics and community groups via internet, aided by the publication of a regular newsletter, to encourage the wider possible use of the project outcomes; thirdly local diffusion in each country through publicity material, broadcasting and workshops.
11. EXIT STRATEGY will ensure transferability to other sectors and geographical areas and availability of the teaching and learning material and modules for adoption and translation to other universities and organisations throughout Europe.


Local Site	Planning Inclusion of Clients through eTraining
Main Introduction Project Participants Events Documents Pilot Area Design Submit Forum Course for planners	1. Introduction - Justification Modern European towns and cities are confronted by a variety of problems and pressures which need to be tackled by enlightened architecture and planning. During the 1990s a series of EC reports have helped to shape the urban agenda, starting from the Green Paper on the Urban Environment in 1990 and culminating with the European Spatial Development Perspective and the Urban Agenda Report in 1997. The emerging new European thinking places the citizen firmly at the centre of policy making, adopting a new citizen-centred "planning culture". Concern internationally is highlighted by the activities of the European Council of Town Planners in defining the 'New Charter of Athens' regarding Principles for Planning Cities-10 commandments for effective participation (www.ceu-ectp.org). Planning has lagged behind other fields, and failed, in effective public involvement in decision making and accountability, resulting in failed policies which did not address local needs . The establishment of open democratic processes require architects and planners to develop special skills and competencies. Besides, the advent of the Information Society has provided the means for innovative, much more effective and wide ranging communication with the citizen, using a home PC, rendering the citizen's participation in the planning process more meaningful and direct. Participation dialogue will be subject to the new guidance regarding e-governance. For example, all UK governmental processes must be available electronically by 2005 . The public, and particularly planners, are anxious for support and help to deal with these new electronic processes. 2. Aims and objectives The PICT project aims to develop innovative ICT training for communities and professional planners to help them handle the requirements of e-governance and in particular to serve the participation process. The objectives of the project include the diagnosis of the training needs of planners and the public through empirical research; the active involvement of the local communities of the participating areas through the establishment of local partnerships to monitor and animate the project activities; the delivery of training through alternative IT media and the comparison of results; the networking of professionals, academics and community groups to encourage wide use of the project products and transferability to other areas; the cross-fertilisation of experience and expertise between the partners and the participating countries in general; and the validation of the acquired skills through the participating universities. 3. Activities and outcomes The project activities and corresponding outcomes include: 1. A review of public involvement theory and practice, including methods facilitating the public's involvement and interaction with collaborative decision making concerning the built and natural environment and review of 'Best Practice' at European level 2. Diagnosis, through empirical research, of the learning needs of planners and members of local communities in the pilot areas in relation to public participation and the use of ICT technology. 3. Creation of a training package, addressed to professional planners and a parallel package addressed to the public. Both packages will be web site based, delivered by distance learning techniques and tutorials, validated and accredited . The development of a professional post-qualification on the subject, with ECTP support, will be considered. 4. Establishment of collaborative structures in each pilot area, in the form of Local Consultative Committees, which will bring together representatives of the local residents, entrepreneurs and community groups to manage the learning process on behalf of the community and liaise with teachers, planners and experts involved in the learning process. 5. Technological development and maintenance of a central project web site, supporting the transfer of project material to the local web sites in each participating country, as part of a project web-network, which will develop the technological means for interactive involvement of the public. 6. Pilot testing the teaching packages in situ by planners and community members. 7. Establishment of a wider network of academics, professional planners and voluntary associations committed to public participation, to encourage the wider application of the methodology and tools developed by the project, adding value to the project results. 8. Establishment in each country and transnationally for the duration of the project, of a "task force" to offer advice and practical help to individuals and institutions which wish to take advantage of the training package; and to evaluate the results and provide feedback. 9. Compilation of a Public Involvement Guide of Good Practice, presenting the experience of the project and characteristic examples of best practice from other European regions. 10. Wide dissemination of the project results through three components: firstly conferencing, electronic and actual; secondly networking of planners, academics and community groups via internet, aided by the publication of a regular newsletter, to encourage the wider possible use of the project outcomes; thirdly local diffusion in each country through publicity material, broadcasting and workshops. 11. EXIT STRATEGY will ensure transferability to other sectors and geographical areas and availability of the teaching and learning material and modules for adoption and translation to other universities and organisations throughout Europe.
	www.pict.hu