The document discusses the fragmented and siloed nature of higher education for the built environment. It notes how education has historically followed the fragmented structure of the different professions. However, it argues this narrow, specialized approach does not adequately prepare students for today's integrated construction industry. The document advocates for more interdisciplinary, collaborative education that mirrors modern industry practices. Barriers to reform like professional accreditation and employer preferences are also examined. Overall, the document questions whether current education models sufficiently serve the built environment field.

1. Higher education for the
built environment
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
Are we fit for purpose?
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 1

2. Chris Wise – 20 Feb 2013
@UoWBECi
“I hope for
#BECi2020 fireworks”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 2

3. KEY OBJECTIVE:
An integrated
supply chain
@UoWBECi
“designers and constructors work
#BECi2020
together to develop an integrated
solution that best meets the
required outcome”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 3

4. “We educate in very narrow
@UoWBECi
silos…they come out of
#BECi2020 university with preconceived
ideas”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 4

5. “....courses may have become too
@UoWBECi specialised or narrowly focussed on
meeting short-term industrial
#BECi2020
needs, rather than educating people
for a career in the built
environment.”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 5

6. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 6

7. “The relationship
between those
responsible for
design and those
who actually build
must be improved
@UoWBECi through common
education”
#BECi2020
Sir Harold
Banwell
1964
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 7

8. “....courses may have
become too
specialised or
narrowly focussed on
meeting short-term
industrial needs,
rather than educating
people for a career in
@UoWBECi the built
environment.” Interdisciplinary Skills for Built
#BECi2020 Environment Professionals
Gann & Salter
1998
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 8

9. “We educate in very
narrow silos…they
come out of
university with
preconceived ideas”
Peter Rogers
@UoWBECi Chairman of
Strategic Forum for
#BECi2020 Construction
2002
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 9

10. Built Environment Disciplines
Fragmentation
Infrastructure
Property
Architecture Engineering
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020 Technology
Planning
Production FM
Management
Commercial
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 10

11. Fragmentation
Silo-based habits
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 11

12. Fragmentation
Silo-based habits
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 12

13. “..it is scarcely
possible that the
innovation and
change that is
essential …can be
secured through
the industry as it
is currently
structured....and
in the silo-based
@UoWBECi
habits of the
industry’s
#BECi2020
institutions.”
Paul Morrell
2010
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 13

14. Specialisation
Silos Narrow focus
Preconceived ideas
Fragmentation
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 14

15. Fragmentation
Silo-based habits
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
 The historical context….
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 15

16. Fragmentation
18th Century
o Gradual Silo-based habits
breakdown of
medieval model
o Increasing use of
@UoWBECi intermediary
between
#BECi2020 employer and
tradesmen
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 16

17. Fragmentation
Early 19th C
o Separation of
design and
Silo-based habits
construction
o Emergence of the
„measurer‟ (QS)
@UoWBECi o Growth of general
contracting
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 17

18. Professional institutions
Fragmentation
Silo-based habits
1818 Institution of Civil Engineers
1834 Institute of British Architects
@UoWBECi 1834 Builders’ Society
#BECi2020
1868 Institution of Surveyors
..... fragmentation institutionalised
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 18

19. Professional institutions
Fragmentation
Built environment education
in 20C
Silo-based habits
• Architecture and engineering:
established early in universities
1818 Institution of Civil Engineers
• Surveying and building - tradition of
1834 Institute of British Architects
part time education – relatively late in
@UoWBECi 1834 Builders’ Society
universities
#BECi2020
1868 Institution of Surveyors
• All disciplines subject to control from
professional bodies
..... fragmentation institutionalised
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 19

20. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
 Built environment education reflects the
fragmented nature of the professions.
 Curriculum heavily influenced by professional
bodies through accreditation
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 20

21. What’s the answer then?
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 21

22. “There is considerable scope for greater
commonality in the education, training
and continuing professional
development of the construction
professions.”
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
(1993)
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 22

23. CROSSING BOUNDARIES
Professor John Andrews &
Sir Andrew Derbyshire
A report on the state of commonality in education
and training for the construction professions
“no support for the concept of a
common three-year first degree for all
@UoWBECi construction professionals”
#BECi2020 Quote from a contributor:
“What‟s the point of educating rounded
people for an industry full of
square, adversarial roles?”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 23

24. EDUCATING THE
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Latham Report – Working Group 9
@UoWBECi “Propositions which use the concept
of a general built environment
#BECi2020
degree programme would be viewed
with scepticism by academics and,
on available evidence, would be
heavily undersubscribed”
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 24

25. Fragmentation Disciplines
Built Environment
Silo-based habits
Architecture Engineering
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020 Technology
Production
Management
Commercial
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 25

26. Fragmentation Disciplines
Built Environment
Silo-based habits
Architecture Engineering
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020 Technology
Production
Management
Commercial
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 26

27. Silo-based habits
@UoWBECi
UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
#BECi2020 Technology
CONSTRUCTION STUDIES PROGRAMME
Production
BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
BSc (Hons) Building Engineering
Management
BSc (Hons) Building Surveying
Commercial
BSc (Hons) Construction Management
BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying & Commercial
Management
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 27

28. Why?
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 28

29. Barriers…….
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 29

30. Professional bodies
Fragmentation
Silo-based habits
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 30

31. Employers
Fragmentation
• Many have a preference for graduates
Silo-based habits
from accredited courses
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 31

32. Students
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
•Attracted to professionally accredited courses
•Perception of better employment prospects
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 32

33. Universities
•Not inclined to take risks which might impact on
student recruitment
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 33

34. Looking ahead:
Is anything likely to change?
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
Some possible drivers for change:
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 34

35. • Less emphasis
on knowledge
• More emphasis
on:
– creativity
– problem-solving
– judgement
@UoWBECi
– collaboration
#BECi2020 – coping with
change
Learning & teaching is changing..
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 35

36. Impact of
tuition fees?
• Universities
will have to
be more
responsive
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 36

37. Low Carbon
Agenda:
• Need for
innovation
• A catalyst for
@UoWBECi new ways of
working
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 37

38. • Promoting
collaboration
• New
procurement
models
@UoWBECi • Intelligent
client
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 38

39. Potential
platform for
a radical
rethink of
@UoWBECi built
#BECi2020 environment
education
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 39

40. …time to defragment the
engineering and architectural
worlds ….to bring well-
integrated, contextually aware
technological knowledge into
play from the start of every
building design
…a new educational model for
@UoWBECi sustainable building design.
20 February 2013
#BECi2020
Chris Wise
Sustainability is for sharing
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 40

41. Educational
models
from other
@UoWBECi countries?
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 41

42. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 42

43. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 43

44. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 44

45. PROJECT BASED TEACHING
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 45

46. @UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 46

47. Are we fit for purpose?
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 47

48. Built Environment:
Collaboration and Integration
@UoWBECi
#BECi2020
BECi 20:20 Series March 2013 48