Reviewing , Rationalising and Redefining Architectural Education in the Context of New Educational Policy -2020
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· Jit Kumar Gupta
Considering, evaluating and analyzing the crucial issue concerning the future of architectural education in light of NEP2020, which calls for globalization of education, making architectural education qualitative, producing quality professional and providing inbuilt flexibility in the education system, it can be safely concluded that, NEP demands a change in system, structure, intent and contents, the way architectural education is currently imparted in India. But change for the sake of change is always fraught with danger and needs to be considered thoroughly, rationally , critically and objectively, based on its implications , context and relevance in the environment in which it is being made applicable. While trying to borrow and follow a system, which is unknown in intent, content, scope, approach, output , applicability, reliability and the context, it will be better to build on and redefine the existing system which is in operation for last more than 70 years.In order to make architectural education qualitative, productive and more relevant, existing system of imparting education and its operational framework needs to be studied, objectively and critically, in terms of its strength, weaknesses, challenges, pitfalls and inadequacies, which need to be appropriately addressed and built upon, rather than replacing it with a system which is relatively unknown and untested.
If present system has failed to deliver largely in quality, it cannot be solely attributed to the system of teaching-learning/ imparting education, but large role can be attributed to the privatization, commercialization and mushrooming of the architectural institutions and unchecked increased intake of students in the architectural courses, without analyzing, understanding the capacity, capability and availability of resources, manpower in the said institute. Quality faculty is conspicuous by its absence
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and most of the institutions are being run by proxy. For making the system more qualitative, productive, realistic and rational it will be better to bring changes in the system from within and not imported from outside. If any system of architectural education would have been perfect, numerous American universities and 52 states would not have followed different systems of imparting architectural education. American /English agenda of education cannot be copied and pasted in India , because of little relevance these systems have in the Indian context.
In light of the above , following suggestion would merit consideration and evaluation for improving the quality of architectural education and make it more productive, focused and rational;
;· Existing system of undergraduate degree in architecture should not be diluted and dispensed with. It needs to be strengthened, enhanced and made qualitative in intent, content, scope, learning and delivery
.· Students should have the liberty and flexibility to leave the institutions after completing 1/2/3 years and join back to pursue the course. There should be no maximum limit of years prescribed to complete the course.
· Couse structure of B Arch could be redefined for 4 years of study, without any break for training, followed by one year of practical work, with ?an architect to earn the degree in architecture, subject to focused and quality monitoring by the academic institution and evaluation by an? external jury, of the learning made by the student in the final year, on continued basis
· Dual degree system should continue to operate. After three years of study, student should be given the option to move out by awarding an under-graduate degree. This degree should make him eligible to? pursue courses in law, management, product design, appear in any? competitive examination like Indian/state services. But in no case student should be permitted to practice as architects under any law of the land.
· No bifurcation, other than two defined above, of the under- graduate degree into certificate after one year, diploma after two years etc., should be permitted to prevent dilution of the profession. Professional degree should be awarded only after completing the entire duration of 5 years of the course.
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· Architectural practice should be delinked from architectural education to the extent that any person going for a practice should not merely have a basic five degree in architecture but in addition should have practical experience working with an architect, for a ?minimum period of two years coupled with undergoing a qualifying exam to test his suitability for practice as architect, so that only persons with required level of competency, capacity, capability, skill, knowledge and expertise are permitted to render professional service as an architect.
· Six years integrated Master course in Architecture should be introduced and should be made available to only those students who fulfill certain basic specified conditions including having ?appropriate score in the degree, having scored minimum credits in the subject and should have opted for the master degree course at the entry level of 7th semester.
· All educational institutions should be periodically reviewed, not only? for infrastructure but ?also evaluated ?for quality of education imparted and the work done by the students. All educational institutions having annual intake of more than 80 should be taken up on priority in the first phase , regarding their critical evaluation for rationalizing the intake.
· ?Ongoing Course curricula adopted for teaching-learning of architecture ?need to be reviewed on regular basis in order to make it more rational and relevant to the challenges emerging in the profession.
· Latest Technologies available in the domain of building planning, designing and construction must be embedded in the study curricula to empower the students. Care should be taken that technology should never ever be used to kill the element of creativity in the student.
· Architectural Institutions ?operating in different regions must be made to co-operate and collaborate for promoting interaction and mutual learning of the profession.
· Exchange of the faculty and interaction among students of various institutions must be encouraged for improving the quality of education.
· Council of Architecture should conduct a study regarding man power required in the domain of architecture in the next 15-20 and should accordingly plan and prepare for that , by rationalizing the intake of students permitted in the various affiliated architectural institutions.
· Affiliating universities should also be actively engaged, involved and consulted? ?by the council of Architecture on partnership basis, for monitoring, evaluation, and empowering Intuitions affiliated to them, for ensuring that they deliver quality education in architecture
.· Council of Architecture should create a platform for inviting leading architects in the country ?to address students and faculty of architecture on regular basis , to make teaching-learning in architecture more qualitative
.· Council of Architecture and affiliating institutions must be asked to provide scholarships to deserving and interested students, who ?wanting to pursue studies in architecture but have limited resources to pursue the architectural course. Scholarship should be given to students belonging to lower economic strata based on a well-defined and transparent criterion involving a qualifying /evaluation examination.
· Professional bodies along with reputed professionals working in different cities /regions should ?be actively involved for improving quality of education and redefining the contours of architectural education
· Adequate mechanism must be evolved for eradicating proxy students, proxy faculty, proxy heads of the departments working in the approved architectural institutions. Professionals found indulging in such unethical practices should be proceeded against, leading to suspension/cancellation of registration as Architects under the Indian Architects Act,1972. Students undergoing study by proxy should be debarred from registration and affiliation of ?institutions encouraging such practice should be cancelled.
· Case needs to be taken up with Government of India , to ?exclude ?Architecture from the purview and operation of the New Education? Policy,2020; ?on the analogy of exemptions granted to profession of medicine, ?law and Chartered Accountancy etc. COA should also undertake detailed study how these professions have been exempted and prepare a case for exemption from NEP 2020 for submission to the GOI