School of Architecture receives global recognition from Royal Institute of British Architects
SL I I T ’ s School of Architecture received global recognition when it was awarded an unconditional full Accreditation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) recently.
The accreditation for SLIIT’s BSc ( Hons) Architecture degree programme is for the maximum possible period of five-years.
A six- member panel comprising RIBA Academics, practitioners and a local representative conducted three days of intense meetings and evaluations, exploring student work, facilities, standards and the ethos of the school. The panel was chaired by Prof. Sally Stewart from the Macintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow, Scotland. Cambridge educated Sri Lankan Senior Architect Mano Ponnaiah was the local representative in the RIBA panel. This validation permits SLIIT architecture students to obtain RIBA memberships and provides the degree with global recognition.
“We are extremely pleased to have received RIBA accreditation, the highest accolade for architecture programmes. This accreditation also aligns with SLIIT’s dedication to provide locally and internationally recognized programmes reinforcing its status as a leading academic institution locally earning global recognition,” Archt. Aishani Jayasinghe, Head, School of Architecture, SLIIT said.
The RIBA accredited, BSc (Hons) Architecture degree is conducted in collaboration with the Liverpool John Moores University, UK. Since last September, the SLIIT School of Architecture has also commenced an MSc ( Architecture) Postgraduate degree. Additionally, the BSc ( Hons) Architecture degree has been validated as a declared course by the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA) since 2018.
Established in 2016, the SLIIT School of Architecture is the youngest school in Sri Lanka to- date to obtain this prestigious global validity. The main objective of the school is to provide Sri Lankan students with an affordable quality education and training in architecture on par with international standards in addition to a Sri Lankan identity.
The School is led by Archt. Aishani Jayasinghe, a graduate from the University of Hong Kong, with a Masters in Archi t e c t u re from the University of Moratuwa. There are nine Chartered Architects including two professors on the fulltime academic panel with another 12 practicing Chartered architects on part time basis as associate design tutors and visiting lecturers providing students individual attention and support.
Academic guidance for the programme is received through the ‘Chair Professor’, Archt. Prof. Nimal De Silva, Emeritus Professor of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa, who is also the former Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa. He carries with him over 40 years of experience in architectural education and the practice of architecture.
He is recognised as an expert on Sri Lankan architectural tradition.
“Receiving RIBA accreditation is an important milestone for SLIIT’s School of Architecture and officially marks the programme in par with other architecture schools around the world. I must commend the staff and students for their hard work and dedication which has contributed towards this official recognition.
The SLIIT School of Architecture takes pride in building a rich roster of graduates who are contributing to the development of the count r y,” Professor Nimal Rajapakse, Deputy Vice Chancellor, SLIIT noted.
Showcasing Sri Lankan architectural wealth, several events and exhibition were organised alongside the validation event.
Titled ‘ Explore’, an exhibition of student work and public knowledge sharing sessions was conducted with the participation of over ten renowned architects, designers and artists parallel. Concurrently, the event ‘ ArchiFest’ was also organised with the participation of students, architects and school children who took part in a model making competition together with the architecture students.
Demonstrating their knowledge and creativity, SLIIT students have displayed their work at the SLIA Architect 2020 exhibition at the BMICH recently.
Located on the 7th and 8th floors of the new 14-storey academic building at the SLIIT Malabe campus, the SLIIT School of Architecture offers students a theoretical and concept based approach to architecture.
Through gain exposure to nature, culture and contextual traditional architecture ensuring inspirational sources to drive design concepts combined with theoretical grounding. The freedom and flexibility allowed in interpreting and pursuing an individual design agenda promoting unique design outputs from each student.
With links to other disciplines and research work within SLIIT, students are encouraged to explore emerging technologies in their design programmes. A network of tutors drawn from practicing architects, interact with the students regularly to ensure their creative solutions are also realistic.
The three- year BSc ( Hons) Architecture degree has a full capacity of 180 students while the Master’s degree has a capacity of 120 students. Currently, 34 staff members including permanent full time, part time design tutors and visiting staff provide teaching support and guidance for the students.
The students enjoy designated individual work spaces in a modern studio environment to which they have 24/ 7 access. The lecture rooms, computer labs, printing and technology workshops at SLIIT are on par with international standards.