School of Planning (SP), now part of Faculty of Planning & Public Policy, (FoP&PP) CEPT UNIVERSITY, celebrated its 40th year of establishment on 10 February 2013 at CEPT Campus with enthusiasm and high spirit. The one day celebration was supported by School of Planning Alumni Associations (SPAA) to mark the occasion and revisit the School’s contribution to planning education in the country. This gala event was attended by more than 250 alumni, students, faculty members and distinguished planners associated with the School from across India and abroad.
The highlight of the function was the felicitation of the founding members of SP, previous teachers and directors, and staff for their invaluable contribution towards Indian planning education at CEPT University. Panel Discussion on ‘Planning education and the role of SP; Presentation on Re?visioning of CEPT University by the President, CEPT University; Down Memory lane with alumni presentations on their experiences and professional works; student perspective and a grand cultural night were the major events for the day. Amongst those distinguished members who attended the 40th year celebration of School of Planning were, B.V. Doshi, Christopher Benninger, Y. K. Alagh as the founder members and a host of pioneering students and teachers like, S.P. Kashyap, Meera Mehta, Narayan Nair, K. Ravi, R. Sankar, Geeta Shah, Prem Pangotra, Prashanta De, and Barjor Mehta. SP alumni are among those who have earned their names worldwide and are behind several national policies as being advisors to governments, and are those who head IITs to those who run a real estate business had all gathered at CEPT for this celebration. SP alumni right from the first batch till the most recent ones were all seen enjoying themselves in this free and open campus as if they graduated yesterday.
The last 40 years have brought various challenges and opportunities in planning education and practice to the fore in India. SP has met the challenge by organizing and expanding planning education into specialized, multi-disciplinary and thematic planning topics and widening access to such education to sections, to meet changing societal needs and realities. SP has so far, contributed in training and educating over 1400 graduates from various sections of society.
As FoP&PP prepares to train professionals in the 21st century, it has through this occasion, intended to bring together students, alumni and faculty members to recall history, to remember with gratitude its founding fathers and illustrious teachers, and reflect on the opportunities which lie ahead. On this occasion through reflection and discourse, SP alumni, faculty and students sought to redefine planning education at SP to meet the future needs of the planning profession in India.
