From the guest editor

Abstract

The “Department Urban and Regional Planning” of the North-West University is celebrating their fiftieth anniversary this year. The Institute for Regional Planning was established in 1965 and this date is also accepted as the date of establishment of the current department. It was also the first year that students could officially enrol to study for the profession that is today known as Urban and Regional Planning. In an effort to gain some perspective on these historical events, it is helpful to look at the establishment of the profession at tertiary institutions. Like in most European countries, the profession in South Africa originated during the three decades after the Second World War. During this time a need was identified for specialists who can plan spatial arrangements and who can help regions and cities to plan ahead. At the time these functions were mainly fulfilled by related professions, namely land surveyors, architects and civil engineers.