Job doctor

The changing nature of the UK's housing industry requires a concurrent shift in the standard of training offered to industry professionals. A new MSc course at the Bartlett School of Graduate Studies, University College London, seeks to give industry leaders the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic environment.

Recent reports by deputy prime minister John Prescott's office suggest that growing demand for housing requires an accelerated building pattern. To meet this demand by 2016, he has called for the construction of 120,000 new homes in the Thames Gateway region and another 133,000 in Milton Keynes/South Midlands.

But it isn't just the quantity of housing that must be reconsidered – it's the type as well. In London for example, mayor Ken Livingston has called for an increase in affordable housing levels. Meanwhile, demographic research suggests a movement towards single-occupant housing, especially for older people and those from ethnic minorities. Changes in housing patterns and preferences are reshaping the future of housing construction.

Housing practitioners will need new skills, both to understand and work effectively within this dynamic industry. A greater knowledge of performance indicators to monitor standards of housing production will be important to keep up to date with the housing industry.

Degrees for the future
The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies seeks to address these changes with the introduction of a new modular MSc course – Housing Futures – to begin in October 2004. With a focus on three key modules – constructability, sustainability, and performance – the course will bring together stakeholders throughout the industry in an inter-disciplinary learning environment.

Housing practitioners will need new skills to work effectively within this dynamic industry

The constructability module will introduce course participants to the process of house building in the UK. It will explore different methods of construction and the housing types required to meet changing demands.

The sustainability module will incorporate recent research and advances in the construction of sustainable housing. It will explore a number of issues, including energy efficiency, technological change and sustainable communities, all underscoring the importance of sustainability in the new housing industry.

The performance module will take an in-depth look at housing markets and processes. Course participants will learn how to assess markets and use performance indicators to evaluate industry standards.