The Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme

In March after 1½ year of preparatory work, the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme at VIA University College was CIAT accredited by the English CIAT institute (Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists). The accreditation will have the result that graduates and students of the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme can become members of CIAT and receive a CIAT diploma. The diploma is acknowledged in all Commonwealth countries.  The students and graduated Constructing Architects will have the advantage that their CIAT diploma will allow them to go abroad and have their qualifications and study programme acknowledged. This is because VIA’s Constructing Architects are validated in just the same way as the English ’Architectural Technologist’ programme. Will attract international students Head of the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme at VIA Campus Horsens, Ole Lynggaard and Laurids Green, point out that the accreditation will not only present the Construction Architects with great opportunities in for example England, where they will become qualified for a wide range of Master programmes offered at English universities: ”The accreditation will also make it easier to attract international students for the international Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme at VIA University College. Especially English students have specifically asked if our Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme was CIAT accredited. The accreditation will namely open the doors to the English universities and due to large expenses affiliated with studying in England, it will become more attractive to take a part of their studies in Denmark”. Will open many new doors Bo Riisbjerg Thomsen, lecturer at the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme and Project Manager of the accreditation work at VIA Campus Horsens, was very pleased with the CIAT recognition: ”The accreditation is of course an acknowledgement of the work that we put in the programme as well as the quality of our teaching. First of all, I am happy for the students, as the CIAT diploma will help them open many new doors and present them with new opportunities both in terms of furthering their education and seeking a job abroad”. CIAT is known for having a high level of activity for the students. Among other things, large competitions on building projects are arranged, where the students become challenged and the demands of the academic standard are uncompromising. Qualifications are crucial The CIAT accreditation has required a lot of hard work. VIA University College and the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme have been thoroughly screened by an evaluation team, who have focused on the lecturers’ qualifications, which has been a crucial part of the accreditation, as well as the quality of the programme’s content and structure. The evaluation team has required a lot of documentation, which in the end was a part of convincing them that the students had the right qualifications to receive a CIAT diploma. Among other things, the negotiation with CIAT in terms of the accreditation was based on the Architectural Technology and Construction Management programme’s as well as CIAT’s longstanding membership of AEEBC – a European association of construction experts – and thereby their well-established knowledge of each other. VIA University College is the only institution of higher education in Denmark, who may issue CIAT diplomas for their students. Facts The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists is owned and managed by its own members from all over the world. The institution for example works on easing the development and integration of new technologies within both architecture and the broad-based construction sector. Furthermore, the institution works continuously on promoting and developing the standards within education and achieving acknowledgement of the members’ competencies.