Hello, is that Neal?

 

It is. Hi! 

 

Hello, how are you doing? I'd love to speak to you about your new bursary program that has been made possible by the Zaha Hadid Foundation. Could you just tell us a little bit about the mechanics of that? And also, how it emerged, and how it came about?

 

Yeah, so these are three bursaries aimed at prospective students from low-income backgrounds. So, with household incomes of less than 25,000 pounds, and refugees.   We've tried to make this really directed at those who have need. We're asking for people who class themselves as independent or young, independent people. So that might mean that they themselves have a dependent under the age of 18. They might be care leavers. They might be estranged from their parents; in other words, not reliant on any kind of parental or familial support at all. And then obviously, for refugees, or those who've been granted leave to remain on humanitarian grounds, the picture is slightly more complicated, but we're still asking for a kind of demonstration of low household income. But as part of that, or on top of that, I should say, we're really keen and we really strongly encourage applications from underrepresented communities within architecture and architectural education. So that means all of those protected characteristics under the Equality Act. But you know, in particular, I think Black and Asian people, queer and trans people, those with disabilities or those who are neurodivergent. We really want these bursaries to help people that otherwise would literally not be able to pursue architectural education any further. We know that they exist, we know that they're out there, we see that in the RIBA education stats, the drop-off in diversity between part one and two, and indeed, between part two and three. We know that they're out there. But we also know that those people are incredibly hard to reach, because they face such intense barriers - financial, but also, I guess, cultural, or socio-cultural. And so, we're trying to get out there and kind of bang the drum for these incredibly generous bursaries. They are full fees across our two-year, MArch in designing architecture, plus maintenance. As you know, we have an earn-while-you-learn model. So, in the first year of study with our students earn at least £12,000, over a 12-month period. So, there'll be a top up for that of £3000 in the first year, which we hope will help with set up costs and equipment. And then in the second year, £15,000 of maintenance support, which is incredibly generous. We're hugely grateful to the foundation for, I think, creating a really serious and exemplary package of support that can tackle those barriers we know people face.

 

Do you think that architecture has a specific issue in these terms, over and above other industry sectors, perhaps within the built environment? Do you think architecture is seen as having a certain demographic attached to it, and to its detriment?

 

Yeah, I think so. I think that's partly to do with affordability. It's also not just about a numbers game; I think it's also about inclusive cultures, about inclusivity. And so that, you know, even those that make it through as it were, to the register, don't necessarily always thrive in practice. And that includes a whole range of underrepresented groups, including white working-class people, as well as those from underrepresented racial and ethnic minority groups. And it certainly feels like that architecture as a kind of profession is slightly behind in that regard, compared to the incredible outreach work that happens in engineering for instance. There's clearly a kind of groundswell of activity, and we're really proud to be part of that. It's extraordinary to see the range of new initiatives that are coming out. So hopefully, things are going to start to change.

 

And the word ‘refugee’ conjures up all sorts of issues, particularly at the moment. Are you at all hopeful that perhaps somebody can come from that corner of the world – meaning Ukraine?

 

Yes. We had designed the programme before the intensification of the situation in the Ukraine. It wasn't designed, in other words, specifically, or opportunistically in that regard – we just felt that there was a gap in in support for people from those communities and we felt that you know, obviously, Dame Zaha Hadid as a migrant – as an immigrant – that this might be a nice kind of link to her legacy. That the bursaries could, although they're aimed at home students, because refugees are classed as home students in terms of fees, that this provided an opportunity to give support to people coming from other parts of the world.

 

It looks like a great move. Do you think this should be replicated by other schools, perhaps?

 

Yes, I mean, that would be great. And it's also hugely encouraging to see the RIBA have also announced a package of support aimed at refugee communities. So yeah, we'd love to see that. I mean, a big part of what we're trying to do with this scheme is actually to open up a conversation. Because if we find that actually, no refugees come forward, or indeed, those with the kind of particular requirements for our low-income thresholds don't come forward, then that's telling us something. Because as I say we know those people out there. If we're not able to reach them, actually, I think that prompts further reflection and further action. We'd love to be part of initiatives across industry to tackle this issue.

 

So, one last question. I just wondered whether the last two years of COVID has had an impact on your intake, and if so, what that impact has been?

 

Well, our numbers have grown, which is really encouraging. We've just had an intake of about 65 students in our first year. And we're hoping to have our largest ever intake for the part two in this coming academic year. And that, again, we hope that this kind of bursary support, along with the Steven Lawrence Foundation bursary, and the pledge that the Marco Goldschmied Foundation have made to us, that we not only can increase our numbers, but increase diversity and increase accessibility to the course.

 

Fantastic. Well, congratulations with it. And good luck.

 

Thanks very much! And thanks so much for helping us to get the word out.

 

No worries. Bye