Wrexham Glyndwr lecturer recognised for excellence in architectural technology

A Wrexham Glyndwr University lecturer has been recognised for excellence in the field of architectural technology.

Dr Colin Stuhlfelder is among the first group of professionals to be made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (FCIAT). This new membership grade is bestowed for excellence in, and significant contribution to architectural technology.

Originally from Caernarfon, Colin became involved with CIAT in 2013, representing the university as a Chartered Architectural Technologist (MCIAT).

He said: “Gaining the Fellowship for doing a job I love and in support of a professional Institute who really are a great partner to all I do is the icing on the cake.

“It means I can continue to promote the profession and CIAT, to students and the public, with recognition from my peers I have and can continue to make a significant contribution.”

“In 2014, I took over as the programme leader for the course and since then CIAT, locally, regionally and nationally have been a great partner for us at WGU, and to me as an academic and a professional.

“They have also given me opportunities to promote what we do here, what architectural technologists are, and what CIAT does, to an international audience, particularly in India.”

Colin was nominated by colleagues for the Fellowship, and had to write a 1,000 word statement for a panel of CIAT peers.

“As I had been nominated for this rather than putting myself forward, I had to cover everything I could think of, not easy in 1,000 words when you are paid to talk for a living,” he added.

“The testimonials meant it was not just me trying to show I had made a difference, which helped, and mine and other applicants feedback on the pilot means future Fellow candidates will have 1,500 words to play around with when they try and do the same.”

The Architectural Design Technology course, like Glyndwr’s Construction Management and Civil Engineering routes, offers students professionally-recognised courses structured around students not only gaining a degree, but also equipping them with a programme informed by the expectations of those professional bodies.

Architectural Design Technology students therefore understand how buildings are designed and built while also starting their engagement with CIAT, becoming student members and then being eligible for Associate membership on graduation (ACIAT).

Colin added: “This means, having been taught by a small dedicated team of lecturers who have professional experience in the construction industry and are recognised as such through grades like the Fellowship, our graduates have met part of the professional requirements for Chartership, in the case of Architectural Design Technology because the course is accredited by CIAT.

“This is a significant draw for future students, and we match this with creating a learning environment where they engage with scenarios and often real projects with real clients to fully understand what it is to be a construction industry professional.

“Challenging as this has been during the pandemic, there are benefits in being a small but enthusiastic university, where we can give our students a personal experience in a community of learners and educators.”

To learn more about the BSc Architectural Technology programme, visit the Wrexham Glyndwr University website.