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Architecture still an attractive career
Architecture head at WIT insists architecture is still an attractive career for school leavers
School leavers and mature students are being urged not to overlook a professional career in architecture because of concerns about the impact of the current recession on employment across the construction sector. Máire Henry, Head of the Architecture Department at Waterford Institute of Technology, encouraged potential future architects to remain upbeat with those interested in design and the societal importance of architecture encouraged to examine it as a career.
Henry was speaking as the first cohort to successfully complete the Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) programme at the Institute; the BArch (Hons) at Waterford is the first new professional programme in architecture in Ireland to have full accreditation from the RIAI.
While acknowledging that opportunities to work in architecture practices in Ireland at present are "incredibly scarce" for those starting their careers, Henry said there were more encouraging trends beginning to emerge in key overseas labour markets where many Irish architecture graduates are building their early professional experience.
She added that opportunities for graduate architects also exist in certain other key overseas markets including north America and southeast Asia. "There is no denying that it is now massively more competitive than at the height of the boom but the situation is not entirely without hope for those who are flexible and willing and able to temporarily relocate if the right opportunities exist elsewhere. At WIT, we prepare students for the possibility of working internationally and our staff have considerable overseas experience. We offer electives in foreign languages and have successful work placement and exchange programmes in France, Germany, Italy, Denmark and Mexico.”
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Plan Magazine
