AA Director Ingrid Schroder is interviewed as part of a news feature for the Architects’ Journal titled, Then and Now: Tutors Reflect on a Changing Architectural Education. The article includes a series of interviews by Anna Highfield with ‘three leading UK architecture academics about how education has changed since the late-20^th century.’ Ingrid is accompanied by Pippa Nissen and Adam Sharr.

Ingrid reflects on the differences between her own architectural education and the system as it stands now: ‘Grants covered fees, making education a much freer space for experimentation. The prospect of failure, and therefore, risk-taking was less terrifying.’ Ingrid also speaks on how the increase in fees tends to reduce the space left available for exploration, when it is now so important for students to acquire skills while learning in order to ensure their employability. Ingrid was also asked about the Bartlett ‘bullying’ scandal, responding that:
‘There is a self-perpetuating tendency to reward unsustainable work ethics. If we bully or intimidate our students, they will bully and intimidate their own. They will create intimidating working environments and the next generation will continue to accept and expect this treatment – from tutors, from employers and from clients.’

Read the full article on the Architects' Journal here.

Image: Photograph of article by the Architects’ Journal.