Planning and planning students in transition

The paper explores and explains trends in the number, profile and distribution of planning students in South Africa since 1994. It locates the discussion in the changing nature of planning, and the labour market for planners in the post-apartheid era, and considers the way trends in tertiary education in South Africa are shaping patterns. While student numbers have been roughly constant, the composition of students has changed, and there is a shift to institutions offering cheaper, easier and more flexible access to planning education. Patterns reflect broader trends in tertiary education and in the labour market for planners. Planning itself has diffused, and a wider array of educational options are available. These trends present challenges for planning education in South Africa.