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26 November 2018<\/em><\/p>\n Well here we are in the silly season once again, with the parties, pageants and graduate exhibitions.\u00a0 The Ultra Violet<\/strong> exhibition at UniSA opened on Friday.\u00a0 Adelaide University launch Iterate<\/strong> on Friday 7th<\/sup> December.\u00a0 Both provide a showcase of final year work – a mixed celebration with students, friends and family of 5 years hard work, a demonstration of capability to future employers and a testament to the learning imparted by dedicated staff.\u00a0 Ultra Violet<\/strong> lived up to all these aspirations, with design thinking, material and spatial understanding and digital presentation capably displayed in many of the projects. I am looking forward to attending Iterate<\/strong>, where I am confident that there will be more inspiring and beautiful work to view.<\/p>\n Final year exhibitions are a great reminder of the rate of change in the architectural profession.\u00a0 I distinctly remember my own graduate exhibition, where hand drafted and rendered drawings sat alongside student made models.\u00a0 In 2018 presentation is almost exclusively digital and some groups of students commissioned professional models.\u00a0 At a more fundamental level, the range of available materials, complexity of technical system, regulatory requirements and variety of project procurement methodologies and contracts has grown considerably.\u00a0 Another key difference between graduating in 1991 and 2018 is that graduates have much better prospects of finding a job, with a number already having secured positions.<\/p>\n And so, to the age-old question. Do students graduate with the knowledge required to take them into the work force?\u00a0 This can lead to heated debate.<\/p>\n However, from my perspective the issue needs to be considered in the following way.\u00a0 Is the expectation that graduates should be immediately ready to start work as autonomous members of the team realistic?\u00a0 There are clearly aspects of architecture that are better learned in a work context.\u00a0 The current registration system is predicated on graduates completing structured experience within a work context prior to being able to register.\u00a0 This is a parallel pathway to doctors, lawyers and accountants, who are also required to undertake post graduate, work place education prior to completing their professional registration.<\/p>\n To assist in this transition to the workplace, tertiary education for architects is increasingly incorporating work integrated learning opportunities, which assist in preparing graduates for a professional practice environment.\u00a0 Many students also seek to work while completing their studies.\u00a0 Experience in the workplace benefits for both practice and students, and I commend those practices that provide such opportunities.\u00a0 It is a great investment in the future of the profession.<\/p>\n I know that I had a lot to learn post-graduation and am very thankful to those colleagues who supported me during this time, providing opportunities for me to develop my skills and knowledge within a structured framework.\u00a0 I hope and trust that this year\u2019s graduates are provided the opportunity to commence on a similar pathway.<\/p>\n In return graduates need to demonstrate their capacity to contribute to the workplace; to show initiative and develop new knowledge while learning from the experience of others.\u00a0 This is your opportunity to apply your knowledge across areas that the profession has deemed suited for delivery through tertiary education and to recognise where your \u2018gaps\u2019 are.\u00a0 Architectural practice has the important role of supporting you in this process.<\/p>\n We wish all of you \u2013 graduates and practitioners – \u00a0embarking on this exciting journey every success.<\/p>\n