ARB announces Prescribed Examination outsourcing rethink (22/07/2008)
The Architects Registration Board announced today that its plan to outsource its Prescribed Examination was to be reviewed over the next twelve months following a tender exercise earlier this month.
The outsourcing project was handled by specialist procurement agency BIP Ltd, under procurement regulations and European directives.
ARB had hoped that the project would lead to new arrangements which would maintain standards, as well as giving candidates both a choice of providers and a cheaper deal.
David Jones, Chair of ARB’s Prescription Committee, commented:
“The Board has decided to take “time out” because it has become clear that ARB’s objectives were not going to be achieved. In the meantime, ARB will continue to run its own robust and even-handed Examination process.”
In the context of questions about the level of its examination fee, ARB is confident that the fee reflects the current market rate. ARB expects further dialogue with would-be providers to build on the lessons learnt from the process.
---Ends---
Note for Editors
ARB’s Prescribed Examination assesses the equivalence of qualifications prescribed (accredited) by ARB for the purposes of Section 4 of the Architects Act.
Print this page
Back
