Globally, the architectural profession lacks equity, diversity, and inclusion, and university architectural education is one of the primary reasons. Architectural educational programs (Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Master of Architecture) are rooted in a face-to-face apprentice-based model complementing theory and practice. With highly competitive admission rates and tuition fees higher than most other programs, architectural education is inaccessible to most. Moreover, universities offering architecture programs typically cluster around large metropolitan areas, leaving rural areas unserved. Universities struggle to create welcoming environments to attract and retain talent from marginalized and underrepresented groups. In recent years, several online university programs (Academy of Art, Boston Architectural College, Lawrence Technological University, Southern Illinois University) have emerged in North America to help address these issues and have successfully been accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board in the US as alternative paths to becoming licensed architects. In Canada, a distance education model was also developed by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada as a work-study model. For many architectural educators, architectural education as a study of the built environment needs to retain a physical in-person component which an online or distance education model could not provide. The study examines new and innovative architectural education models from universities globally that address radical inclusion and alternative paths to licensure to become architects. The methodology includes a comparative study of the program curriculum and delivery models and interviews and surveys with educators from representative institutions.

Authors:
Henry Tsang, Athabasca University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Henry Tsang is an Associate Professor at the RAIC Centre for Architecture, Athabasca University, Canada. He is also a Visiting Research Fellow at the Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo and a Lecturer at at Waseda University.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrytsangarchitect/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Henry-Tsang-2

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