Job losses in Architectural offices

No6

Unfortunately I am a long way from Dublin so i don't think i'll get to see it. It was the same in my day all the courses comparing themselves against each other, I do remember comparing the level of work we did as to DIT and being shocked at the difference, we were miles better (of course) in our own minds but in the end the true test of the quality of any course is the quality of its graduates and the oppertunities it give them, I know that DIT will never seek CIAT accreditation and will stick with RIAI accreditation only which I believe is extremely short sighted, and potentially mitagates against the courses graduates as they have no professional recognition in an international context. While CIAT are making huge inroads with recognition of its members across the world the RIAI are giving us a new title and trying to keep us under the thumb and I am afraid I believe the DIT course is working along the same lines. I would love to be proven wrong. If I was a student in any course (never mind DIT just in case you all thing I am DIT bashing!!) I would like to know that my course if recognised by all relevant profesional bodies both domestic and international and where this is not the case (most courses) I would be kicking up holy blue murder.

Best of luck with the results Jozi, I hope you get through ok!!.

This is straying widly off topic so perhaps a nice mod will seperate this from the Job lossed thread.

jozi

Your completely right, we from DIT, think we are better but thats all down to being a DIT graduate (we're still better though :P)

Agree about the quality of graduates is the only testament. I also feel it's what ever the student takes away from it, those working harder will get more from the course obviously. I'd love to see direct comparison between the 2 courses! I know from a class mate that when his brother was doing the degree in Waterford that he had little hrs, we had little lecture hrs but all the other stuff took up time.

I'm not to well informed on all the accreditation etc and the pro's and cons of each institute or what they aim to offer. I do feel Technologists are a very useful employee (dare I say more usefull than an architect depending on the stage a project is at?) with lots of abilities, at least thast what I like to think.

I got through it surprisingly well with a upper merrit (2-1), I felt the whole year that I didn't put much effort into it but thats a different story again and even more off topic.

No6

Congrats Jozi well done.

beyondpassive

Well done Jozi.

I'd argue the point with No.6 that honours degrees arn't important to employers. I've noticed that teams are being put together to compete for e tender jobs where team members have to have both a high degree of experience in the particular sector.

Oddly enough you are scored on your least qualified/experienced team members who invariably tend to be the technician, who scores very highly on experience but dismally on qualifications.

The nature of architectural consulting is changing, its a Europe wide thing. Gone are the huge companies with 300 employees, instead, companies draft in freelancers to add their specialised experience and qualification. Lean teams with high levels of specific experience.

i hit the glass the glass ceiling with a whallop mid celtic tiger as a technician, so needed to upskill or retool. I've just finished an honours degree in Planning and Environmental management in DIT and managed to sneak out with a first class honour. Apart from the time and money investment, it was relatively easy. I had undervalued my skills as a technician, which when transferred to another disipline, gave me a huge headstart. That said there are less opportunities for planners than technicians, but doing an honours degree or masters lets you take a specific subject and become an expert in that, culminating in an academic subject. I'm not advocating going back to full time college for 4 years as i did. I would recommend doing say the AEES MSc Arch in CAT in Wales, they are even considering setting up an Irish based course. Nevertheless there is always a gang of Irish people car pooling on the ferry to go to the part time masters for 5 days at the end of each month. Might even sign up myself next march intake.
http://gradschool.cat.org.uk/graduateschool/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=53&Itemid=216


If nothing else, having an hons degree puts me on a similar level of esteem with my architect colleagues.

I really don't see DIT running a part time Arch Tech Masters in the next 5 years. DIT have been cutting masters programmes and besides don't have the required level of qualified supervisors in the department despite currently advertising for a post doc for the Architecture department. I wouldn't put any hope on such a course. Its fairly obvious that the construction industry will have no role for most architectural technicians in the short, medium and long term. There is however a skills shortage in the sustainability sector in the meduim term and technicians have the perfect skills base and work ethic to start gaining new skills in this area.

DvB

Well getting this thread back on topic so to speak, the firm i work for closes its doors as of wednesday so from then i'll merely be another unemployed Architectural technologist. I have never been out of work since starting from college over 15 years ago so not sure whats facing me TBH, i'm assuming that theres no chance of picking up work with another firm (based on what i've been told by others let go in the last 18 months) but suppose i'll fire out the CV anyway, it'll probably be a therapy of sorts. At the moment i simply dont know what else to do & with a family to support its definitely worrying times, still i'll keep my fingers crossed that theres some life in our industry soon & i'll pick something up as its not a time i'd like to be away from it for too long what with all the changes taking place in the industry at the moment in terms of regs & designs etc.

rayjdav

DvB,
Sorry to hear your predicament. I too am out, for over a year now. Tis hard and like you, first time in over 15yrs also. Daddy Daycare!! At least wife working so some financial comfort.
I have sent CV out to anyone and their dog over this time and, not what you want to hear, not a sausage out there. As one agency said, too experienced in this field and not enough to work on production line in a factory:( Sure we can remember the good times.....
What used to be "nixers" is now work, what little I can get:mad:
Have resorted to going back to my old "dayjob" and trying to start covers band now to make money:o. If any SE based AT's in same situation and wanna beat the recession, and can play something, feel free to Pm.
We can call it "the band that boards built" :D:D
Best of luck to you and all in same situation

beyondpassive

Sorry toget lightly off topic, but i thought this may interet some of you:

CITA and DIT are runnung a parttime and fulltime master of science in construction Infomatics. Application closing date is 30th July. I'd imagine level 7 may qualify but cant be certain. Seems like a good future proof masters for technologists.

In fairness as a process, technical detailing was never streamlined, there is huge potential to develope systems to reduce the labour intensity. Many sectors have increased productivity and profitability by the use of IT, Architecture hasn't really been up to speed. Even the CAD and specwriter tools, have a lot of catching up to do.

jozi

I haven't been on here for awhile. Had a good 9 month stink in a well known Architectural practise, untill today when I got let go Their hopeful they can take me back in a few weeks when jobs pickup again and there's work/money to take back the staff they let go.

Not sure what to do now (apart from work on the car) college isnt an option, 4th year took it out of me and I didnt enjoy it.

Has the Irish building trade pickup over the last 9 months or where is it at?

Supertech

Not a huge amount jozi. There's bits and pieces of work out there but there's so many people scrapping for them that it's difficult to get the work in the first place. All we can do is keep plugging away. Hopefully things will find an even keel eventually. It's good that there's a possibility of you being taken back on anyway. Best of luck with it.