Educators need help from the CIH
It was with a sense of resignation but not surprise that we read the articles on housing education which presented a negative picture, suggesting that universities need to ‘pull their socks up’ with regard to value for money and responding to employers needs (Inside Housing, 6 August).
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Despite the best efforts of some institutions, any positive and successful courses seem to be ignored by our colleagues in the Chartered Institute of Housing. For example, the courses at University of Wales, Cardiff, have increased their housing student numbers by 132 per cent over the past four years. This includes full-time and part-time students. There are clear reasons for this, including strong working relationships with employers who are able to influence the content and delivery of programmes; close working relationship with the CIH Cymru National Business Unit; the wider contribution to the sector by the housing team; and offering pre-foundation education opportunities to tenant and community groups.
There are, of course, many other successful housing courses in the UK which we are sure would be as willing to share their experiences with the CIH, as are we.
In the article, the emphasis placed upon the experiences of students undertaking part-time blended learning via the CIH should have been counterbalanced with some of the very powerful stories of students who have accessed housing programmes, often starting off as service users, and for whom it is a life changing experience.
For example, the fully qualified experienced housing practitioner who is a tenant and started their studies in a homeless hostel. There is a role for both full-time and part-time education provision delivered in traditional and non-traditional ways.
We do not rest on our laurels, we are continuously seeking to improve our programmes and we are supported greatly by employers in the sector but we do need the CIH to work with us. As fellows and active members of the CIH we feel the real issue here is the need to actively promote housing as a career choice to schools and access courses, and to promote the benefits of education to those people who are already working in housing. We do this as a programme team but need the CIH to take a more pro-active role.
Amanda Protheroe FCIH senior lecturer in Housing, UWIC
Jane Mudd FCIH senior lecturer in Housing UWIC