Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects

Architects Registration Board and the Royal Institute of British Architects - Procedures for Validation (26/06/2000)

The RIBA and the ARB announce that following a careful examination of their respective roles and responsibilities within architectural education, they have reached agreement on their ongoing joint work in the area of course validation within UK Schools. As a result new documents will be published in July 2000. Though based closely on existing arrangement they will outline the new procedures which will be brought on-stream over the next academic year.

The Validation process seeks to ensure that the qualifications which the RIBA and the ARB recognise are delivered and maintained at a prescribed standard, leading to corporate membership of RIBA and registration through ARB.

The RIBA's role, enshrined in its Royal Charter is to achieve the advancement of architecture and the promotion of the acquirement and knowledge of the arts and sciences connected therewith. This gives the RIBA a special responsibility to encourage diversity and research, and to strengthen the academic integrity of the arts and sciences of architecture as the bedrock for a mature, contemporary and socially responsible practising profession.

The ARB has a statutory responsibility for determining the standards of education and professional competence required for registration as an architect in the United Kingdom and has a mandate to implement the 1935 European Commission Architects Directive which specifies the core areas and duration of study required for European recognition of a qualification of architecture

It follows that although the responsibilities and objectives of the RIBA and the ARB are not identical they derive from a common basis of agreed professional standards. The RIBA and the ARB are committed to progressing their close working relationship with UK Schools in the development of programmes of education that effectively prepare graduates to meet the challenging demands of our fast changing construction industry and the social and ethical dimensions within which it operates,

NOTE TO EDITORS

The 'Procedures for Validation' document will be published in July. Meanwhile further information can be had from:

RIBA: Leonie Milliner on 020 7580 5533

ARB: Robin Vaughan on 020 7580 5861