Education and Careers Committee

Headline Purpose

To help attract school students in Northern Ireland into architecture, enhance architecture students’ learning and improve the impact of research.

How this purpose will be achieved

Develop new (or tailor existing) resources for architects engaging with primary and secondary schools and explore the potential for a publicly funded schools’ programme
Organise an annual opportunity for careers teachers to engage with the profession.
Provide oversight of the RSUA Professional Insights Programme for second year undergraduates.
Promote multiple routes to becoming an architect in Northern Ireland (Eg. Apprenticeships) and seek to ensure that all architecture courses are receiving adequate funding.
Maintain ongoing dialogue between the universities and the profession so that students are being suitably prepared for entry into the profession.
Assist in developing a shared understanding of the live research being undertaken in Northern Ireland on a bi-annual basis.
Increase impact of university research by presenting research conclusions with the profession, decision makers and the wider public.
Provide clear route for the profession to request/propose research topics and develop joint RSUA/UU/QUB policy papers based on research.
Prepare RSUA responses to consultations relating to the education of architects.
Engage with other relevant bodies including the All-Ireland Research Group, NI Assembly Research Matters and the other professional bodies.

Public benefit

The public will benefit by having a built environment which is better designed because talent is attracted into architecture courses, that talent is suitably prepared for professional life and research will underpin more of the design decisions taken by architects.

Membership and contact details

Education & Careers Committee Chair, Jennifer Cromie jennifer.cromie@lowrybuilding.co.uk

Name	Organisation	Email Address
Matthew Bishop	Construction & Procurement Delivery, Department of Finance	matthew.bishop@finance-ni.gov.uk
Sarah Brady	Samuel Stevenson & Sons	sarah.brady@samuel-stevenson.co.uk
Rory Caithness	Ulster University	rt.caithness@ulster.ac.uk
Jennifer Cromie	Lowry Building & Civil Engineers	jennifer.cromie@lowrybuilding.co.uk
Nicola Donnelly	Department for Communities	nicola.donnelly@communities-ni.org.uk
Glenda Hall	Education Authority NI	glenda.hall@eani.org.uk
Simon Holland	Education Authority NI	simon.holland@eani.org.uk
Alan Jones	Queen’s University Belfast	a.jones@qub.ac.uk
Gul Kacmaz*	Queen’s University Belfast	g.kacmaz@qub.ac.uk
Neil Mathews	Neil Mathews Architects	neil@neilmathewsarchitects.com
Jenny Russell	RIBA	jenny.russell@riba.org

*not a qualified architect, but is an architectural professional

Meeting frequency/pre-arranged dates

This committee will meet quarterly, from 1pm until 2.30pm on the following dates:

1pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025
1pm on Wednesday 14 May 2025
1pm on Wednesday 13 August 2025
1pm on Wednesday 19 November 2025

Other meetings will be scheduled as required between the standing meetings.

Involvement

RSUA members who are interested in joining this committee should contact Jude Faloon on jude@rsua.org.uk

Find out more

Read some of the most up to date and relevant news articles relating to the Education and Careers Committee here.

Useful Resources

Introducing Architecture: This is a work experience guide for practices who take on year 13/14 school pupils for week-long work experience placements

Engagement

If you or your organisation wishes to engage with the RSUA Education and Careers Committee, please contact Jude Faloon on jude@rsua.org.uk