Professional Development

CO-COURSE LEADERS

ALASTAIR BLYTH, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOO
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Joined the Department of Architecture in 2016 following ten years in the Directorate for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development developing a research programme on learning environments. Publications include book on Briefing (Routledge, 2001, 2010); education environments (OECD 2009, 2012). Collaborates with architectural practices in Sydney and Mexico on school building projects. Consultant with the OECD, World Bank and Council of Europe Development Bank.

WILFRED ACHILLE, SENIOR LECTURER

Completed major study on Broadwater Farm, Tottenham after the eighties riots. Founder of Mode 1 Architects specialising in estate remodeling projects and urban regeneration. External examiner both nationally and internally. Developing new Turn-key solutions business model for architectural practice

COURSE ADMINISTRATOR

AMANDA PAWLISZYN
A Faculty Administrator based in the School of Architecture and Cities, primarily supporting the Part 3 course. Involved in the organisation of all aspects of the programme, Amanda is a key point of contact for tutors, students and examiners.

Professional Practice

Professional studies forms an integral part of all courses in the School of Architecture and Cities. It includes work experience for students as well as lectures from practitioners and activities such as visits to exhibitions and events and an employability week on the BA Interior Design course.

For the architecture students a coherent programme of professional studies runs across Part 1, Part 2 and the largest Part 3 course in the UK.

Live Design Practice

The School is developing a Live Design Practice led by Maria Kramer which will give students at different levels and from all courses across the school the opportunity to take part in live projects, but also provide basis for research into innovation in practice. It is a neutral space where we can bring together people from planning, architecture, interiors, architectural technology, transport and tourism to work together. The initial project is to develop a community hub in Waltham Forrest and the project is funded by QHT fund.

Part 3: Professional Mentoring

The University of Westminster Part 3 course has over 400 students working in a broad range of architectural practices - more than 230 practices based in London and the south-east.

The students come from a wide variety of backgrounds including overseas schools of architecture. Architects who trained outside the UK also attend the course to gain an in-depth understanding of the complexities of UK practice.

Following the requirements of the ARB/RIBA Professional Criteria Part 3 is structured as a series of building blocks with clear assessment points throughout the year.

The lectures, delivered by industry experts this year delivered online allow students to balance attendance with work commitments and are recorded for easy future access.

Students’ professional development in the workplace is supported by a team of 40 professional tutors – all architects in practice – who provide one-to-one tutorial guidance on project-based coursework. Professional examiners consistently comment on the high, critical standard of the coursework which we attribute to the structured tutoring system where students are challenged to think about practice differently.

The different student backgrounds, as well as the types and number of practices represented on the course, along with the tutors and examiners gives an unprecedented reach into the architectural profession. This enables the course to both draw from the breadth of practice experience as well as contribute to it.

The Part 3 Course was validated by the RIBA for a further five years in November 2017 and the Visiting Board gave it a Commendation citing its scope and delivery, dedicated Chair of

Professional Practice and dedicated administrative support. It was revalidated by the University in 2018.

A Part 3 student from last year, Dominic Eley, received funding from the University of Westminster to conduct a series of interviews on books that have influenced architect's practice and which will be featured on his architectural literature blog, Arch-ive.

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