Architectural education - redirecting with emerging trends in practice

Abstract

The last 30 years since the emergence of Information Technology has seen vast changes to world economies, shifting of wealth to Asia, Business Process Outsourcing, massive growth in Air Travel & Tourism etc. It has also seen vast changes in architectural practices which include practices requiring to adopt collaborative bids with developers and/or contractors than the traditional method of design and procuring, Architects being adaptive to design vast array of challenging projects to suit the knowledge based economies of the region etc. This paper will explore such trends and offer suggestions for schools of architecture to explore. Not only do new graduates are required to be multi-experienced and multi - tasked but also practicing architects needs to periodically upgrade their skills through continued education to match the fast changing and demanding world of practice today thereby creating an opportunity for Schools of Architecture to be more actively involved in contributing to upgrading the skills of Design Practices through skills upgrading of practicing Architects.