Changes to the RIBA Core Curriculum

The RIBA is launching a radically new, greatly simplified CPD Core Curriculum in September. Members of the RIBA CPD Providers Network are being contacted now with details of how this may affect their own CPD materials. Here, we provide an overview of the principal changes.

RIBA’s changes to the CPD Core Curriculum have been designed to better help architects use CPD to:

• build their businesses
• stay resilient
• meet targets
• acquire new skills
• cultivate new work and new clients.

Members will be able to ensure that they always possess the key old and new skills to help themselves to stay competent and resilient, and to protect themselves and their businesses.

The move to a simplified curriculum has been long called for by members. The new structure is in line with the revised RIBA/ARB Joint Validation Criteria for Parts 1, 2 and 3, which is also being published in September.

The previous curriculum identified thirty-one topics to be covered over five years, whereas the new core requirement centres around ten key topics, at least two hours per topic per year. The ten topics are:

• Being safe: health and safety
• Climate: sustainable architecture
• External management: clients, users, and delivery of services
• Internal management: professionalism, practice, business and management
• Compliance: legal, regulatory and statutory framework and processes
• Building procurement and contracts
• Designing and building it: structural design, construction, technology and engineering
• Where we live: communities, urban and rural design and the planning process
• Context: the historic environment and its setting
• Access for all: universal/inclusive design.

This much-simplified structure will enable architects to tailor their CPD requirements to suit their area of professional expertise. Note that the more or less detail an architect needs in their practice or daily life, the more or less detailed their CPD on core topics could be. Theoretically, any relevant learning activity, whether structured or self-directed, can be claimed as CPD. That may range from weekly reading at one end of the spectrum, to additional qualifications at the other, with an endless variety of learning activities in between.

Members will be required to meet the following requirements:

• 35 hours of CPD input
• 100 points assigned to activities as a means of self-reflection
• At least half, where possible, to be structured
• At least 20 hours to be assigned to Core Curriculum topics, or at least two hours per topic each year.

The new structure will also enable architects to pursue CPD to acquire new specialisms more easily, helping them to diversify and learn new skills. Our revised approach allows architects to take ownership of their CPD and use it in support of their own needs, their businesses, new areas of work, new clients and new income.

The RIBA is contacting all Providers with details on remapping existing CPD materials to conform to the new look Core Curriculum. You will receive information regarding remapping of CPD by the end of August.

 

Joni Tyler, Head of CPD at RIBA will be going through the changes to the Core Curriculum and we will be also exploring the architect’s perspective on the ingredients for effective CPD material at the Consultancy Day 2011 event.

 

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