Architecture: Teaching the Future / Future of Teaching

Driven by a need to examine the trajectory of architectural education and staffing, this paper questions academic recruitment and education strategy in relation to the 2015 Royal institute of British Architects (RIBA) education forum in the UK. Interviews with key academics actively challenging the future of higher education models were undertaken; London School of Architecture, AA Little Architect scheme and Free School of Architecture showcase detailed and reactionary approaches to the changing relationship between education, industry and the marketplace. An international survey was conducted gathering data from academics, the findings of which indicate a lack of clarity and consistency in the transition from architectural education into academia. The paper analyses the context of the results and proposes improvements to recruitment and staffing strategies both inside and outside of the traditional university framework. This research contributes to the wider discussion around future development and employment in arts education. If the discipline lies in the hands of the educators, then the future of the discipline lies in the hands of the future educators. To be truly forward thinking about the direction of practice we must first address our approach to academic recruitment, with a specific focus on early career academics.