New Prescription Procedures for UK Schools of Architecture (20/02/2003)
At its meeting today (20 February 2003) ARBs Board signed off the Prescription Procedures it had approved in November 2002. The new Prescription Procedures come into place in September 2003, alongside ARBs new criteria, also being introduced at that time.
The new Prescription Procedures are partly a response by ARB to a request from RIBA that ARB need not participate in visits to Schools of Architecture in order to fulfil its statutory duty to prescribe qualifications.
The new Prescription Procedures are a development which is likely to be of interest to other registration bodies. They pioneer a new methodology. The major change in focus is that it is now for the Universities to decide whether they wish to seek prescription for a course, and if they do, to convince ARB to give it prescribed status. When considering applications, ARB will wish to be confident that for the next four years (the period for which prescription runs) students who are awarded a degree will have met all the criteria applicable. ARB will look to see whether certain factors are demonstrated, including:
That explicit strategies and mechanisms for assessing students/candidates have existed to ensure that the relevant criteria have been achieved.
That these strategies and mechanisms of assessment have been subject to both internal and external periodic review and audit, and found to be adequate.
That assessments have been rigorously monitored for consistency and benchmarked for comparability with other institutions offering prescribed qualifications, and found to be adequate (eg. by external examiners).
That the institution has appropriately responded to problems identified by benchmarking, review and audit processes.
That internal and external review and audit processes have been rigorous and that, in their implementation, steps have been taken to ensure that they take account of the vocational, as well as the academic, aspect of the qualification.
That appropriate mechanisms exist to ensure that the appointment, development and leadership of staff and examiners (including external examiners) has taken account of the vocational, as well as the academic, aspect of the qualification.
That the vocational aspects of the qualification are accepted as satisfactory by architects in practice.
That the institution, has and will continue to have during the future period of prescription, adequate resources.
That the institution is committed to maintaining and, where appropriate, enhancing its provision relating to the matters listed above for the future period of prescription.
In developing its new Prescription Procedures ARB has been greatly assisted by both the RIBA and SCHOSA. They have given generously of their time to ensure, from their different perspectives, that the Prescription Procedures are as simple and practicable as possible and leave the Schools of Architecture and RIBA free to establish a relationship in architectural education, without the regulatory work of ARB shadowing that process.
The new Prescription Procedures are designed to enable a School to know where it stands in good time and to obtain feedback on its application before ARB makes its decision. ARB believes that in this respect, as in others, the new Prescription Procedures are significantly better for everybody involved.
Through the new Prescription Procedures ARB will continue its statutory remit to prescribe qualifications and in so doing will remain alert to issues that have exercised it in the past, including:
That universities seeking Prescription have the resources and ability to deliver what is required by the School to meet the criteria set by ARB.
That the examination standards are acceptable to ARB.
That students have attained competence in all the criteria set by ARB.
Note:
A copy of the Prescription Procedures is available from ARB, together with further background information should it be required. Please contact Robin Vaughan on 020 7580 5861.
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