ARCHAOS supports the introduction of more flexibility into architecture courses and broadly supports SCHOSA's concept of a single gateway to the profession.
ARCHAOS would like to highlight the value of being able to change universities during qualification and would like to see that ability maintained and improved.
ARCHAOS believes in the importance of Diversity in our education and would argue strongly against any enforced direction (EU or UK based) as to HOW architecture should be taught in the UK. Schools, Students, Practices should be free to formulate different ways to meet end result criteria.
ARCHAOS supports the development of work based learning routes and apprenticeship. Whilst we feel this is a very valid means of learning architecture, we would not support this system completely replacing University-based courses in Architecture. We believe that this route to registration might attract a different social demographic to become Architects, which would be immensely valuable to the profession.
ARCHAOS believes that Architects have a responsibility to practice sustainable development. This is not currently addressed by the European Directive.
ARCHAOS believes that Architects have a responsibility to contribute to the education of architecture students. We believe this should be a binding requirement on the profession.
ARCHAOS would like to see guidelines for Practices produced - and minimal conditions enforced - to ensure that Practices and Students get the most from the Year Out.
ARCHAOS encourages schools to increase opportunities for communication between students within their schools. Peer-group learning is immensely effective. Student-run Societies should be welcomed and financially assisted. Diploma students should share their Year Out experience with Degree students. Schools efforts to enable this communication should be recognized and highly valued by Validation/Prescription Assessment.
ARCHAOS encourages efforts to increase communication and links between schools Nationally and Internationally. This might include student exchanges, pooling of school resources, joint projects, combined crits, student competitions, volunteering opportunities or summer schools.
ARCHAOS encourages schools to continue to develop ways in which architecture students and their projects can interact with the public world beyond the confines of the university. This includes: Live projects, Real clients, Current proposals/ sites, local investigation, public exhibition, organized consultation. This could be developed in conjunction with local Practices, Residents, Companies and Councils.
ARCHAOS would like to highlight the necessity for a large percentage of students to work part time. Universities and the Profession should be supportive and accommodating of this.
ARCHAOS does not believe that the answer to funding problems lies primarily in shortening courses, since we believe that the main cause of student hardship results from the gap between the money available to students and living costs.
ARCHAOS believes a major source of student stress is caused by uncertainty over the complex route to Qualification. Currently there are many ways in which aspiring architects can unwittingly fall out of the system. This is unacceptable. The system should be CLEAR, and CONCISE, UNIVERSALLY APPROVED information and assistance should be readily available.