CPGSC Paper 2007/5/1

First draft (conclusions only): 9th April 2008

ALIGNMENT OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION IN EAST-CENTRAL SCOTLAND

VALIDATION EVENT: MONDAY7TH& TUESDAY 8TH APRIL 2008

REPORT OF THE VALIDATION PANEL

Postgraduate Studies Committee
Comments:
Academic Council
Comments:

Quality Assurance and Enhancement

Academic Session 2007/08

CONTENTS

1. /

Introduction

/ 3
2. /

Validation Panel Membership

/ 3
3. / Outline of Project / 3
4. / Conclusions and Issues Raised / 4
5. / Summary of Interviews / 5
APPENDIX 1 / List of Interviewees / 9

1. INTRODUCTION

A validation event to consider the first stage of the Alignment of Architectural Education in East-Central Scotland was held at Edinburgh College of Art (eca) on 7th and 8th April 2008, in the academic session 2007-08. The validation event was managed in compliance with the Accreditation Agreement (2004) between eca and the University of Edinburgh (UoE).

2. VALIDATION PANEL MEMBERSHIP AND OBSERVERS

In accordance with the validation agreement between eca and the University of Edinburgh, the validation panel included two external subject specialists, as well as three representatives from the University of Edinburgh. A student representative was also included on the panel.

ProfessorIan Pirie (Convener) / Assistant Principal (Learning and Teaching), eca
Mr Alan Ducklin / Associate Dean (QAE), College of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Dr Noel O’Regan / Music, School of Arts, Culture and Environment, University of Edinburgh
Dr Martin Hammer / History of Art, School of Arts, Culture and Environment, University of Edinburgh
Mr Alan Murray / Head of School of Design, eca
Mrs Irene Bruce / Academic Registrar, eca
Professor Jonathan Hill / Professor of Architecture and Visual Theory/ Programme Director: MPhil/PhD by Architectural Design, The BartlettSchool of Architecture, UniversityCollegeLondon
Professor David Dernie / Head of the ManchesterSchool of Architecture
Ms Sarah Beattie-Smith / President, eca Students’ Representative Council
Mr Martin Donnelly (Secretary) / Quality Officer, eca

3.OUTLINE OF PROJECT

TO FOLLOW

4. CONCLUSIONS AND ISSUES RAISED

Conclusions

The panel commended the development as a broadening of the educational opportunity offered to Architecture students in the city of Edinburgh. The panel was pleased to support and approve the next stage of this process. This approval is accompanied by issues raised by the panel and noted below.

Institutional Condition

The panel’s support is dependent on the following condition being met:

That both institutions address a list of outstanding issues prior to the programme’s submission to the Architects’ Registration Board. (The list is to follow, but will include: a full Memorandum of Agreement; quality assurance responsibilities; resource modelling; the development of a student charter; support services; and student finances.)

Recommendations

Additionally, four project-specific issues were highlighted as recommendations:

i)That the project management group addresses the leadership and strategic direction of the project, with a clearly articulated vision and ethos. The panel noted the importance of the position of Professor of Architecture in this.

ii)That the programme documentation be appended with a matrix document articulating more clearly the mapping of module learning outcomes to the Architects’ Registration Board criteria.

iii)That transition arrangements be more clearly articulated, particularly outlining where and how existing students might take advantage of the proposed changes.

iv)That the communications strategy be reviewed in order to ensure that all stakeholders (including students, academic and administrative staff, and external examiners) are adequately informed of project developments.

5.SUMMARY OF INTERVIEWS

TO FOLLOW

APPENDIX 1 – LIST OF INTERVIEWEES

HEADS OF SCHOOLS
Professor Stephen Cairns / Head of Architecture (UoE)
Professor Richard Coyne / Head of School of Arts, Culture and Environment (UoE)
Mr Leslie Forsyth / Head of School of Architecture (eca)
ACADEMIC STAFF
Professor Ian Campbell / Professor of Architectural History (eca)
Dr Soledad Garcia Ferrari / Lecturer in Architecture (eca)
Mr Chris Lowry / Lecturer in Architecture(eca)
Ms Fiona McLachlan / Senior Lecturer and Change Leader (UoE)
Dr Ola Uduku / Senior Lecturer and Change Leader (eca)
Professor Iain Boyd Whyte / Professor of Architectural History (UoE)
STUDENTS
Julia Argo / BArch stage 3 (eca)
Ewan Parsons / BArchstage 4(UoE)
Amy Redman / BArch stage 2 (eca)
Terrance Revella / Diploma in Architectural Conservation (eca)
Karlyn Sutherland / Diploma in Architecture stage 2 (eca)
Francis Young / BArch stage 3 (eca)

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