IHBC Yearbook 2013

22 Y E A R B O O K 2 0 1 3 SKILLS FOR TRAINING ACROSS PROFESSIONS AND TRADES GRAHAM LEE Graham Lee BSc(Hons) MRICS MCIOB IHBC combines consultancy roles as heritage manager at the Building Crafts College (BCC), project manager with the educational charity Conference on Training in Architectural Conservation (COTAC), and London and South East regional heritage skills coordinator for the National Heritage Training Group (NHTG). Graham studied building technology in the 1960s at UMIST and subsequently qualified as a chartered surveyor and chartered builder. Here he discusses his involvement in three important areas of building conservation training: the Foundation Degree in Historic Building Conservation at the Building Crafts College, COTAC and the Building Traditional Skills bursary project. pool of expertise in built heritage. Applicants for the FdSc vary widely in age, background and career experience. Some are already involved in construction or heritage, while for others the course is a complete career change. An important part of the course is obtaining practical heritage experience to satisfy work-based modules. For those currently employed in the industry, their existing role may be suitable. For those who are not, assistance is provided to help them obtain appropriate placements. One of last year’s graduates has gained a paid part-time contract with the London Borough of Merton to continue work on its borough character study, which the student began as an intern. Course fee and subsistence loan funding for those who have not THE BUILDING CRAFTS COLLEGE My responsibility for the two-year Foundation Degree in Historic Building Conservation (FdSc) at the Building Crafts College (BCC), which is validated by Kingston University, is to oversee course delivery. This includes ensuring a team of qualified and experienced professional tutors (most of whom are current heritage practitioners) is available to deliver the course. I liaise with Kingston to ensure that the course meets the university’s stringent academic quality standards and provides a satisfactory student experience. I arrange technical visits to historic buildings and live projects and arrange visiting specialist lecturers and a careers day. The foundation degree, which is in its fifth year at the college, has recently had capacity increased to train %* students per year. A qualification in its own right, the FdSc is part of a suite of courses o"ered by Kingston which includes a top-up to BSc/MSc after a further %-# years of study. All qualifications are recognised by the IHBC so graduates will grow the Students attending the Understanding Repair and Maintenance of Traditional Buildings course, outside the Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

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