I attended the second day of the conference organised by Indian Institute of Architects, Northern Chapter and Delhi Build which mainly focussed on the future, future of Architecture Profession and Education.
Here I will like to share some hard facts presented by Prof. Manoj Mathur of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi on Education Scenario in India.
Prof. Manoj Mathur, SPA. Photo Credits – Ar. Shamit Manchanda
The presentation was minimal in my view, mostly white, focussing on the keywords and hardly any images. It started with a question “Why present methods will not get us there?” And, being an educator (part time) myself, I could not disagree with the question itself. In subsequent slides, Prof. Mathur discussed issues with respect to the curriculum, faculty, systems and methods of teaching.
Some of the points he stressed upon are:
1. Teachers themselves have not learned what to teach their students, never seen a construction site, but, teaching building construction. Degree and Council registration only leads a horse up to water, doesn’t make him drink.
2. Excessive strait-jacketing into Engineering Education Systems by misguided heads of institutions has turned Architecture into a text book discipline.
3. Hubris and inertia due to prescriptive adoption of Council Guidelines. Distinctiveness to exploration and invention.
4. The norms about Full Time Faculty laid by Council are counter-productive.
I must congratulate Prof. Mathur for the impressive, interesting and an informative presentation and the organisers (IIA NC & Delhi Build) for the successful event. I have requested Prof. Mathur to share his presentation with me and more people (educators, students and institutions) and open it to views, discussions and debate.
First Draft.
Fifty years of architecture, Practice and education has convinced me beyond reasonable doubt that the majority of Schools of Architecture have no clue of the profession and its demands.
This very creative yet very responsible and responsive of all professions challenges the Human Mind and Body to change in continuum as it evolves every single moment.
Schools of Architecture, as seen from today s scenario, ought to restrict themselves to teaching the theory, history and the TOOLS in the FIRST THREE years. NEXT TWO YEARS spent under a professional architect of the student s choice, is the prerogative of the individual student to explore, search beyond research, and EXPRESS the built living environment as he comprehends with content on the context. These are challenges and have a myriad moods of expression and yet have strong fundamentals.
One can learn alphabets and notes in many languages and culture, BUT to string them together as a meaningful OBJECTIVE goal demands a discipline no other profession exerts.
And then after the formative years ONE should under his her own preferred choice choose guidance from a mentor.
All this will blend Art and Technology to a synthesis to herald new visions.
Architecture is for the Living Man and his her Mind and Body.
The presentation can be found here!!!
http://www.posts.architecturelive.in/the-future-of-architecture-education/
Superb and inspiring one….!!!