View publication - Chartered Institute of Housing

PART ONE: LEARNING TODAY
Conclusion
As for the future of housing learning in a tough environment – learning centres need to
continue to be flexible, to partner with housing organisations and find out what exactly
they need and how they want that delivering. To be viable for the future educators
cannot wait for students to come to colleges and universities to follow a standard
programme of learning. Of course there are issues of quality and standards that learning
centres need to uphold, but this can still be achieved in taking the learning out of the
institution and directly into housing organisations through face-to-face programmes, or
supported online learning.
The subject skills required by housing professionals will always be subject to change. A
spoof advert used in an article in CIH’s Housing magazine back in October 1999 alluded
to the seemingly ever changing and expanding skills needed by housing professionals: 11
WANTED positive and enthusiastic team worker for job in housing
Customer service background and knowledge of financial markets desirable.
Experience of project and risk management required. Capacity to fulfil ambitious
government plans for urban regeneration essential. Professional qualification
encompassing knowledge of law, debt counselling, rent valuation, basic planning,
construction, people management, environmental health…
As centres for housing learning we will continue to keep students updated on the latest
topic changes, but it is our role in empowering students through the use of learning as
scaffolding, to be built upon in order to reflect the new skills required by housing
organisations, that should be the bigger focus.
Key points
• Housing educators need to be flexible in the way they provide the
‘scaffolding’ for students to tailor their own learning.
• There should continue to be dialogue between housing educators,
employers and the professional body to ensure the needs of the industry
are reflected in the curriculum and assessment regime.
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