What sort of education can best tackle the challenges of sustainability in the built environment?

Learning in all forms, from the education of students to the continuing development of professionals, is key to a sustainable built environment. The issues explored in this debate were around general cross-disciplinary learning versus focusing on the specialisation of disciplines.

To deal with challenges of sustainability, is deep and narrow knowledge more beneficial or is shallow and broad knowledge more desirable? We know that collaboration between disciplines is essential, but so is detailed understanding of technical issues. The idea of ‘T-shaped’ people is becoming more widespread; how do we create graduates and professionals who have the skills and knowledge to create and maintain a built environment that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable? Issues covered included lifelong learning for built environment professionals and feedback loops between learning and practice.

Speakers
Chair: Nigel Tonks, Buildings London Leader, Arup

Team Specialist:
Satheesh Jacob, Head of Excellence, Building Services, Ramboll
Alex MacLaren, Assistant Professor – Architectural Design, Heriot Watt University

Team Generalist:
Paul Tymkow, Director of Learning and Knowledge, Hoare Lea
Robert Schmidt III, Senior Lecturer, Loughborough University

Venue: The Clarence Centre for Enterprise and Innovation, London South Bank University, 6 St George’s Circus, London SE1 6FE

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This debate was the last in the Built Environment Exchange Series 2016. A series of multidisciplinary debates jointly organised by the Sustainable Communities Institute at London South Bank University (LSBU), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineering (CIBSE) and the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Built Environment Group (APSBEG) to bring together built environment professionals, students, business leaders and clients to address challenges of sustainability in the built environment.

Organised by: London South Bank University, CIBSE, the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Built Environment Group and the Edge.