WRONG TO CANCEL ARCHITECT EXAMS
On Thursday the universities responsible for Arkitektprovet, an alternative way of accessing the country’s architectural programmes, announced that its exam will be canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“In our already troubled times the future of young people should be given priority. There must be a better solution,” says Fredrik Elsner, CEO of Wester + Elsner Architects.
Arkitektprovet is an entrance exam made up of two parts that makes it possible for people to enter an architectural programme without having top grades or by acing the university entrance exam. On Thursday the four higher education institutions responsible for the exam announced it was being canceled due to the risks of spreading the virus. This is the first time since the Arkitektprovet was introduced in 1987 that it will not be offered.
“The exam has an important function in rewarding talent and artistic ability,” says Fredrik Elsner. “Many of our best architects have taken this route into our industry”.
One of them is Ivar Kandell, a Co-Owner of Wester + Elsner Architects. He agrees with Fredrik that a better solution needs to be found, especially as many hopeful candidates have already submitted their coursework.
“The coronavirus pandemic requires creative thinking, and should not be allowed to shatter opportunities. If there is anything that should be kept going now it is opportunities for education so that fewer people end up unemployed,” says Ivar Kandell, and suggests a proposal.
“At Wester + Elsner Architects we want to encourage higher education institutions to rethink. It must be possible to carry out the second part of the test with sufficient social distancing measures in place. For example by conducting tests at different times and in different locations. Ask for help from the industry! Here most of us are working from home right now, so we have space available and are more than happy to help where we can, in line with the directives from the authorities of course”.
Find out more at Arkitekten.se.
Publicerad: 6 April, 2020