As a strategic step toward actualizing Universitas Diponegoro’s (Undip) vision as a World Class University, the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (DURP) – Faculty of Engineering Undip welcomed Neville Mars, PhD from Mars Architects through the WCU Practitioner program. Neville Mars is an urban design and architecture practitioner with international experience in sustainable urban development, responsive design, and urban innovation.
This program includes teaching several courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students, such as Land Use Planning and Development, Planning Methods, Urban Design, and Studio Practice. The involvement of a practitioner in the academic setting strengthens experience-based learning, broadens students’ perspectives, and connects planning theory with real-world implementation. “Students need to see how planning concepts truly work in the real world. Through project experiences and international case studies, I hope they can develop a broader and more critical perspective,” said Neville Mars.
Guest Lecture on Land Use Planning and Development with Neville Mars, PhD
Through this initiative, DURP aims to enhance the quality of the learning process and improve graduates’ competencies to compete globally. This activity also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, particularly in advancing quality learning through strengthened teaching capacity, access to professional expertise, and learning that responds to current labor market demands and development challenges. The WCU Practitioner program serves as a concrete step for Undip in delivering a more inclusive, adaptive, and internationally oriented education.