Friday 21 December 2012

Merry Christmas

Just to wish all my followers, fellow members and anyone who reads my blog a Merry Christmas and a healthy and successful New Year 2013.

2013 will my last year as President - a sad thought but I look forward to representing and leading the Institute in the new year.

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Architectural Technology: Raising the Profile

A symposium stimulating activity to raise the profile of Architectural Technology held on Friday 7 December 2012 at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. I was honoured to be one of the speakers for the day.

With a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, the symposium stimulated activity to further raise the profile of Architectural Technology through the sharing of experiences and opportunities in practice and academia.  The one day event brought together a range of professionals, academics and students working and studying in the field of Architectural Technology.

The day looked something like this:

Architectural Technology – Setting the Context
Professor Sam Allwinkle PPBIAT MCIAT 

Theme Overview and University Perspective
Gareth Alexander BSc (Hons) PGCertHEP AFHEA MCIAT, Lecturer in Architectural Technology, University of Ulster 

FE Colleges – Where Further Education Fits In
Andrew Hamilton, Belfast Metropolitan College

CIAT Perspective – What is the Future of Our Discipline?
Mr Colin Orr BA (Hons) DipArch MArch PCIAT RIBA FHEA 

Opportunities and Innovation in Architectural Technology
Leo Forte MCIAT, McLean & Forte Partnership, Belfast based CIAT Practice 

Design + Technology: Bridging the Gap
Scott Kyson MCIAT, MCSD, BIID, Kyson, London based CIAT Practice 

Benefits of KTP and Feeding the Knowledge Back Into the Curriculum
Dr Dave Heesom BEng (Hons) MSc PhD MCIAT MInstKT FHEA
Reader in Building Information Modelling (BIM), University of Wolverhampton 

Architectural Technology: The Scandinavian Perspective
Dr James Harty BArch MArchSc PPCert PGCert PhD RIBA MAA Copenhagen School of Design & Technology, Denmark 

Workshop – What Can We All Do to Raise the Profile?

I hope that there will be papers published from this event.




From left, Scott Kyson, Leo Forte, Gareth Alexander, Professor Peter Walker, Colin Orr, Dr James Harty, Andrew Hamilton, and Dr Dave Heesom.

Society for the Environment Christmas Reception

Earlier this month, I was delighted to attend the Society for the Environment Christmas Reception and meet with fellow professionals and colleagues from the industry on 4 December held at the Institute of Directors.

It was very humbling to learn of the two new Honorary Fellowships with their remarkable achievements within, and contributions to, the world that we live in.

With Adam Endacott, Public Relations Director for CIAT



Wednesday 5 December 2012

Meeting with CHOBE



Yesterday, I attended an excellent meeting with Council of Heads of the Built Environment (CHOBE).

CHOBE supports and represents those with strategic responsibility for the development and delivery of graduate and postgraduate education and research within the disciplines of construction, property and surveying.

It provides -
• Networking opportunities for Heads and their colleagues to share and inform each other in respect of knowledge and good practice.
• A means of mutual support at individual and institutional level.
• A forum in which to discuss and solve problems of mutual concern.
• The opportunity to foster relationships to achieve educational and research aims.
• Representation on professional bodies and other organizations in order to strengthen knowledge of the disciplines and their contribution to the economy and to lobby on behalf of our members; and
• The primary point of consultation by external stakeholders for education in our sector.

It comprises Heads of Schools/Departments in UK universities responsible for research, knowledge transfer and learning in the fields of construction, property and surveying whose aim is to work with colleagues to ensure that built environment disciplines are well supported within educational institutions and to act as a representative body.

CIAT and CHOBE were in discussions about how the two organisations can work together for the benefit of both CHOBE constituents and CIAT’s universities and its members.