This year marks 100 years since RIBA validated its first architecture course at the University of Liverpool in 1924.
With 235 programmes running across the globe, the validation programme has grown significantly over the last century. Today, RIBA validation is an evidence-based, peer review system working both nationally and internationally as a critical friend to schools of architecture, reviewing standards and relevance in today’s world, encouraging excellence, and ensuring a positive student experience.
To celebrate this milestone, in partnership with the Liverpool School of Architecture, on 20 March 2024, Professor Lesley Lokko acclaimed author, educator and curator and recipient of the Royal Gold Medal 2024 for architecture, will deliver a lecture reflecting on the history of architectural education and requirements for the future at Liverpool University.
Reflecting on the milestone, RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki said:
“Educational validation is central to RIBA’s purpose: to facilitate the advancement of architecture. For a century RIBA has shaped the content and delivery of Part 1, 2 and 3 architecture courses across the globe – ensuring students of architecture are best placed to tackle the pressing challenges faced by the profession and society.
As someone who has dedicated her career to reforming and rebalancing architectural education, there could be no one more worthy to host this celebratory lecture than our 2024 Royal Gold Medallist, Professor Lesley Lokko.”
Professor Lesley Lokko said:
“Validation comes in many guises – from professional validation of competency to personal affirmations of worth. Social media has turned it into an art form, but there’s no substitute for the validation of one’s peers. It’s a critical and necessary part of growth, not to be confused with approval. It’s an honour to have been asked to give this important lecture.”
Professor Ola Uduku, Head of School of the Liverpool School of Architecture said:
“We are delighted to mark the centenary of our being the first school of architecture to achieve RIBA validation by welcoming Royal Gold Medallist Lesley Lokko to present the validation lecture. We could not ask for a more appropriate and worthy personality to give the platform to speak from, as we celebrate this seminal event.’’
The lecture will take place on 20 March 2024, tickets are now available.
