Architects-in-Practice working with Architects-in-Education

Contemporary undergraduates present challenges that are not fully addressed by the contemporary university learning environment. Two prominent examples of these challenges are the ‘transition’ issues that are common to many first year undergraduates progressing from the ‘shallow’ learning environment of secondary level education to the ‘deeper’ learning environment of university education; and the stake-hold of the student in their education as a result of the introduction of fees and potential increases in fees. This project seeks to foster a considered, active engagement of the student cohort with research that informs their learning environment and enhances their learning, allowing the students to become co-creators of their curriculum. Year 1 architectural students and professional architectural practitioners, contributing as equal participants, will actively research the employability related architectural curriculum through a project-based-learning exercise. A number of corresponding collaborative workshops will reflect on and evaluate the research in progress. The project provides a distinct forum for collaboration between education and practice by facilitating active and direct engagement between first year undergraduate students and the architectural profession. This collaboration will help foster in the undergraduate an understanding of employability skills in the architectural profession. Students, acting as co-creators of their own learning, will have the opportunity to analyse, evaluate and reflect on their curriculum and present these findings to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).