The Architects Registration Board (ARB) has reached a major milestone in its reforms to architects’ training and education in the UK.
At its most recent meeting on Wednesday 9th April, ARB’s Accreditation Committee discussed and agreed to approve three new Master’s level qualifications by the University of Leeds, two of which take an innovative integrated format.
The Accreditation Committee’s decision will be finalised after a statutory consultation ARB must hold with relevant professional bodies, and ARB has written to those bodies to start the consultation process.
Image: Roger Stevens Building, University of Leeds
This is the first time that a new-style architectural qualification that meets ARB’s new Competency Outcomes has reached this stage of the accreditation process. It marks a significant step forward in implementing the new regulatory framework for architectural education, which was introduced to better align how architects are trained with contemporary practice, widen access to the profession, and ensure architects are equipped with the skills needed to meet future challenges.
Alan Kershaw, Chair of the Architects Registration Board, said: “We’re thrilled to see the first new-style degrees reach this stage of the accreditation process, including two integrated qualifications that will take students from their undergraduate degree through to a Master’s that meets our Academic Outcomes. This represents real progress in our work to modernise architectural education and training, and shows how innovative learning providers can make the most of the flexibility opened up by ARB’s education reforms.”
Justin Lunn, Architecture Lead at the University of Leeds, said: “The University of Leeds’ new integrated programmes, which will provide accredited Master’s level qualifications in architecture as well as structural and building services engineering, are the realisation of a long-held vision to create a unified approach to education with a goal to produce graduates who have expertise across disciplines, allowing them to be more effective and collaborative professionals from the beginning of their career. We’d been at an advanced stage of planning for Part 2 as an addition to our Part 1 course when ARB’s education reforms were announced and we realised that they were an opportunity to implement an improved offer.”
ARB anticipates that more qualifications will be approved for consultation under the new accreditation framework in the coming months as institutions continue to adapt existing courses and submit proposals for new programmes for accreditation.
Updates on these qualifications will be published on ARB’s website following the statutory consultation.
