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Hello, my name is Steve Houchin. I am a senior lecturer
in the School of Surveying and Planning and I'm a field
leader for the MSc in Historic Building Conservation. We
also actually run an undergraduate programme in
Historic Building Conservation, which we do in conjunction
with another college, the Building Crafts College in
Stratford, which takes place over two years. We then have
a further year here to complete the BSc and then students
can go on, maybe to the MSc. Or we have students who
already have probably a related degree in the built
environment, maybe architecture or a surveying degree
already, and they want to specialise in that particular area of
historic building conservation. So we have a suite of courses
right through to MSc from undergraduate.
There is very little provision for that scope in the UK,
and certainly I think we're probably unique in the South East in
being able to provide that whole course provision. One
aspect we're very keen to promote and to develop within
the suite of courses that we have is the practical element;
and that might be arranging site visits – again we're lucky
really in the London region and the South East generally
to have such a wide variety of historic buildings. So that's
buildings which are maybe quite old – or maybe not so old.
For example, the recent redevelopment of the Southbank
Centre in London (a fifties development which has been
redeveloped fairly recently) and of course rather more
high-profile elements of the built environment – for
example Hampton Court, the Tower of London,
Kensington Palace – so those types of iconic buildings
that one would associate with a historic built environment.
And at the same time we're very keen to develop the
practical element of historic building generally
through hands-on experience with materials, with
different techniques that, in conjunction with the legal
and economic aspects of historic building conservation
and regeneration, results in we think an interesting and
comprehensive range of activities associated with
historic building conservation generally. In addition to
my role as field leader for the MSc in Historic Building
Conservation, I'm also the placements tutor for the School
which means that for students at undergraduate level,
if they wish to do a sandwich degree, I am responsible
for their work placement and ensuring that they can
derive full benefit from their placement during
years probably two and three of their undergraduate course.
Especially in today’s climate, where the qualification is
essential, that allied to the work experience is hugely
beneficial to students when they apply for work having
completed their degree; or in a few lucky cases actually
become sponsored for the final part of their degree and
then can take up employment with their placement
organisation once they have graduated. So I am
responsible for that element too.