March 16, 2026
A team of SCARP researchers invite MCRP alumni who graduated between 2019-2024 to answer some questions as part of a study that will inform the future of planning education:
Are we training transformative practitioners?
Assessing the connection between planning education and practice
Principal Investigators: Dr. James Connolly, Dr. Andi Binet
Co-Investigator: Dr. Keisha Maloney
Ethics Identification Number (University of British Columbia): H25-03537
More about the study
The SCARP researchers are examining whether current trends in planning education are effective in preparing graduates for the planning profession. To understand the connection between planning education and practice, they are inviting Master's of Community and Regional Planning alumni from 2019 to 2024 to participate in their study. The study poses questions about how prepared you felt for the job market and what your experience in the profession has been like since graduating. The results will be used to inform the future of planning education in Canada and beyond.
The first phase of the study is a short (15-20 minute) survey. Survey respondents will be entered into a draw for a $150 gift card. The survey includes a question about being contacted for an optional interview (approximately 60 minutes) and participant observation. Any information you provide will be kept confidential.
If you'd like to participate in this study:
About the researchers (click to expand)
SCARP Associate Professor James Connolly (he/his)
Dr. Connolly's work focuses on how urban planning and policy serves as an arena for addressing social-ecological conflicts in cities. In his research, he uses mixed-methods that combine quantitative spatial analyses with qualitative approaches to understanding how people shape and perceive the city.
SCARP Assistant Professor Andi Binet (they/them)
Dr. Binet’s research explores the intersections of urban planning and health equity, with a feminist focus on care and social reproduction in cities. They're leading a multi-year study of childcare planning in BC, and co-lead the PAR project Healthy Neighborhoods Study exploring the relationship between urban development and community health in Boston, MA.
SCARP Postdoctoral Fellow Keisha Maloney (she/hers)
Keisha's researches how planning praxis generates transformative shifts in society. She asks: What capabilities enable communities and planners to create transformative change using democratic processes? Her PhD focused on the training side of this challenge, to evaluate the impact of community-engaged learning in advancing transformative practitioners.
If you have any questions about the study, please contact Dr. Keisha Maloney.