Architectural education and the profession in Australia and New Zealand

This is the first major study into architectural education in Australasia since 2008 Critically, it is also the first research in the region to include perspectives from practitioners and sessional teachers as well as academics and students. The study aims to increase understanding of the experience of architecture students, graduates and academics, and to support greater connections between schools of architecture and the architectural profession. The study identifies a range of substantial challenges facing architectural education. Increasing student numbers have not been met with a concomitant increase in ongoing academic staff, while the timeframes within which education occurs have been compressed and the resources allocated to deliver architecture programs are diminishing. All of this creates a high pressure environment for the education of architects, which can be stressful and challenging for all. Despite these difficulties, the academics participating in the study are mostly committed educators who feel that their work is meaningful and worthwhile, and students are generally positive about their study and future careers.