Northumbria retains globally-recognised built environment accreditation

Northumbria University has once again cemented its reputation as a leading institution providing globally-recognised standards in built environment education after retaining its professional accreditations from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

After more than 30 years of working with RICS to deliver accredited programmes relevant to a career in Surveying which support routes to professional qualification, the University has successfully undergone a formal accreditation visit by a review panel of experts in the sector.

The outcome means the breadth of popular undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes currently offered by Northumbria academics, which deliver the RICS technical and professional standards, continue to be accredited for the next five years.

To support and equip students from all backgrounds with the skills necessary to thrive in the job market, a number of the programmes are also offered via distance learning and degree apprenticeship routes.

The accredited study routes include full-time BSc (Hons), Degree Apprenticeship and MSc courses in subjects including Building Surveying, Construction Project Management, Quantity Surveying and Real Estate.

Danni Foster, Senior Member Pipeline Specialist for Future Talent at RICS said: “RICS are delighted to continue the relationship with Northumbria University and are especially pleased to see their delivery of the Chartered Surveyor Degree Apprenticeship go from strength to strength. Degree Apprenticeships are an excellent route to RICS membership, which continue to grow in popularity.”

Richard Laing, Professor of Urban Collaboration at Northumbria and Head of Subject for Built Environment programmes, said: “Retaining this mark of excellence is a real team effort and receiving the confirmation that our courses remain RICS accredited for the next five years is a huge achievement.

“The review panel met with 19 current students, 10 alumni and 12 employers from industry and it was very heartening to hear their feedback on the expertise, experience and support available across all of our programmes.”

Graduate Rob Wilson studied the Building Surveying BSc (Hons) programme at Northumbria and is now a Director and Board Member at the global BTY Group, which operates within the construction and real estate sectors. He said his time at the University had given him an invaluable foundation from which to build his career in Surveying.

“The education and support I received at Northumbria have been instrumental in my career to date,” he explained. “Having spent four years as a member of the RICS Governing Council, I hold RICS at the pinnacle of the Surveying world, and I’m thrilled to see Northumbria continuing to hold the RICS accreditation. It’s a testament to the University’s commitment to excellence in education and the opportunities it provides for students.”

Northumbria University offers a range of courses across Architecture and Built Environment subjects.

Professor Ashraf Salama, Head of Department for Architecture and Built Environment at the University said: “I am incredibly proud of the extensive practice experience and industry knowledge we share across the Department of Architecture and Built Environment which allows us to maintain the range of industry-standard professional accreditations we currently offer.

“This reaccreditation success reflects how the Department embodies the University’s experiential learning strategy where students benefit from live projects, work placements and international partnerships in a research-rich environment. Our aim is always to enable our students to reach their potential by developing the skills they need to move into highly skilled jobs and shape their future careers.”

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