Jun 29 2007
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is pleased to announce a partnership with the Department of Architecture and Spatial Design (ASD) at London Metropolitan University, to deliver a course offering those who have taken career breaks the opportunity to return to practice. This July the RIBA is also launching the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provision initiative; RIBA Skill, offering more intensive CPD for those who wish to obtain additional qualifications or specialist skills.
The RIBA/London Met Returners’ Course is aimed at qualified architects who have taken a career break, and responds to the findings of the RIBA/University of the West of England research, on why women in particular leave architecture. ASD Projects, an architectural consultancy unit and live projects office embedded within the Department of Architecture and Spatial Design will manage the course. ASD Projects will be supported by leading architectural practices and construction industry professionals as part of the course content.
The primary aim of the course is to provide the technical knowledge and confidence to be able to re-enter the profession and to be re-employed. The second aim is to ensure competence in the basic skills required to practice again. The final aim is to help regain talented architects and to strengthen and broaden the profession through greater diversity.
The Returners’ Course will provide skills and build confidence whilst helping to establish a peer group that will support students after the course is completed. At the centre of the course there will be a live case study of a building as a means for students to understand all parts of current procurement and building processes. The course, which begins in September 2007, will also include morning seminars, site and practice visits, and informal receptions. The final day and assessment method will be a practical design and project planning exercise.
The new RIBA Skill initiative offers intensive ‘Super CPD’ for members who are looking for advanced or specialist knowledge from second degrees, certificates or diplomas. RIBA Skill will complement existing RIBA CPD provision from the RIBA CPD Providers Network, the RIBA regional network and RIBA endorsed courses.
Jack Pringle, President of the RIBA said:
‘This returners course underlines the RIBA’s is commitment to enabling architects to return to their profession. Membership in the profession is increasingly international, increasingly diverse and we are encouraging people to rejoin the community after a break for whatever reason.
“Increased specialisation, practice demands, client demands, government requirements and changes to the construction industry as well as the RIBA CPD core curriculum, have led to the need for advanced post-graduate learning and qualifications. Whilst the RIBA already provides advanced learning such as Business Master Classes, access consultancy preparation courses, qualifications in project management and a certificate in construction management, this initiative fills a key need in the market.”