Refreshing the Education Committee

As part of the recent Institute-wide Governance review, the CIOB’s former Education, Qualifications, Standards and Practice Board (the EQSP Board) has been reconstituted and elevated to a full Committee.

Now called the Professional Standards Committee (PSC), it has the same role as the previous Board; to oversee the advancement of the Construction Management profession and knowledge of the science and practice of building and construction through the appropriate education, qualifications, standards and practices, for the benefit of society.

It still looks after the standards of the CIOB’s Professional Review at Membership and Fellowship level and continues to oversee the work of the Institute’s Awarding Organisation and newly approved Apprenticeship End Point Assessment Organisation.

The PSC members’ advice, ideas, and support, both in meetings and as part of working groups, is invaluable in designing new programmes and qualifications and maintaining the standards underpinning professionalism in construction management. Members are currently contributing to work on important parts of the CIOB’s Corporate Plan, such as the introduction of a new mandatory CPD policy and the introduction of a new grade for technical specialists. They help form CIOB’s response to initiatives in the education and training sectors and support the Institute’s work on recognition of professional membership. Committee members also been instrumental in guiding some of the work for the incoming British Standard for the Principal Contractor dutyholder role; a major piece of work stemming from the UK Government’s Building Safety Bill, with CIOB members leading on several aspects.

In addition, this group of academics, educator and industry-based individuals with an interest in training and development always steers CIOB staff to make our qualifications and programmes as inclusive as possible, maintaining access to all those in the construction management sector, across the disciplines and around the globe.

Currently Interim-Chaired by Trustee Noreen Hollywood for its inaugural year, the Committee is well set for handover to the incoming Chair, Brian Graham of Waterford Institute of Technology. This means we will shortly be seeking a Vice-Chair to help continue the PSC’s important work. To keep the “academia/industry” balance in all it does, the Committee alternates the Chair between educators and industry-based members, so if you are working in the construction sector and would like to be involved, keep an eye out for the advert!