ROLE OF EDUCATION IN CREATING LEADERS
Anil Chotmarada
Architectural education in India has come to a stage where it is imperative that retrospection be undertaken to redefine its ideals and goals based on the changing needs of the market. The establishment of definite guidelines for a professional educational programme necessitates a clear understanding of the needs of the market where this professional is to be absorbed. Neither the professional bodies nor the schools have been able to provide suitable fundamental premises to initiate and develop schools of architecture meeting these requirements. While there are a large number of areas which need to be clarified like the basic philosophy of the school, the contents of the programme, the thrust areas, understanding of the final profile of the graduand and the like, this paper is limited to the topic of this conference – the making of an architect such that he can lead.
It may be worthwhile to first appreciate the qualities of a leader before the issues of his training can be taken up. Very often, it has been pointed out that leaders are born and not created. If that were true, then there is no need for having any schools and training institutions. As we do have these schools in place it would be necessary to see how these can be used to the best advantage of students who wish to become good professionals. A basic premise that an architect must be a leader has to be accepted to take the discussion further. To substantiate this premise an appreciation of the architects role in an architectural exercise is essential. An architect gives birth to the architectural idea which is translated into reality with the help of various other consultants and agencies. The efficiency of the final outcome of the idea is dependent on how well the architect is able to co-ordinate and lead this team. The architect thus, of necessity, becomes a leader of a professional team. The necessary training that is required to handle this aspect of his work can be studied once the qualities of a leader are appreciated.
Leadership in general is a matter of building up a team spirit and motivating the team members in making the individual contribution a meaningful part of the whole exercise. In architecture too, the leader, that is the architect is expected to make all the consultants and agencies see his point of view because that is what has got to be executed. The role of some of the consultants starts from the very beginning, some come into the project periodically, some off and on and some stay a constant. It is imperative that the architect appreciates the kind of inputs expected from each consultant and develop a spirit of togetherness and effective coordination. There will be conflicts in the suggestions made by different consultants and it is the obligation of the architect to establish the priorities of the project thus designating the importance of the different advice and adopt a conciliatory approach to make all the consultants feel important members of the team. Equally important is the fact that the architect must know when a consultant needs to be called in and how to present his requirements to get the best results from the consultant or the agency involved. To achieve this end the architect needs to be very clear about the project and the kind of help he needs from his consultants. This calls for him to be very well informed about his subject and be reasonably well informed about the area of the consultant for it is only when he knows about the subject of the consultant or the agency that he will be able to seek their effective inputs. Thus an important quality for an architect, to be a leader, is to be well informed about architecture and the allied areas of building and construction and management.
Besides his capabilities in mastering his subject, an architect to be a good leader needs to have the capability of communication and building up effective public relations. Not only does an architect need to convince his clients on accepting an abstract idea, he needs to communicate with other professionals trained and untrained to get the project executed. Handling the vast array of specialists, suppliers and contractors that he has to deal with, requires a very developed communication skill in the architect for coordinating the work of all these agencies in a synchronized manner. Apart from the communication skills an architect must have the normal qualities of a good human being like honesty, dedication, sincerity and high moral standards to play the part of a role model which can be seen as another face of a leader. Imbibing of these qualities, if one is not born with them, is then a matter of training. It is this learning process that the schools of architecture can impart to the budding professional.
The training for the development of these qualities can be imparted through various methods. These methods have to be integrated in the syllabus and curriculum to be effective. Architectural education thus has to have a very wide format of teaching methodology. Just the class room and studio instructions are not enough to either build architects or to make leaders. The programme needs to incorporate various techniques which improve the communication, inter personal and other leadership qualities in an individual. The different methods identified for this purpose can be examined on two fronts – academic and extra mural.
On the academic side the students are expected to present their design projects and other creations in an open forum in front of a jury of elders and peers. This exercise is a tremendous confidence building activity. Not only is the student careful in his design because he has to present it in front of many people, he also learns to present his views before a group of people in a clear and lucid manner. The subsequent questioning on the project is an exercise in building the confidence of the student in facing clients and consultants and their probing queries. Besides the design presentations, the students are also expected to present seminars on various topics in different subjects which again entails presenting facts and views before a group of people which is followed by discussions. This exercise too is a training process whence the students acquire a leadership quality of confidence and convincing others through effective communications and meaningful presentations Group projects form another medium of developing leadership qualities. Through these the students learn how to operate as a team and for one of them to be a leader in an area of work related to the project. Another method is of holding special lectures in which students are acquainted with styles of confident presentation which is an essential leadership quality.
On the extra mural front a number of activities are organized by schools in helping students acquire leadership qualities. These range from cultural activities to educational tours. In cultural activities which comprise fine, performing and literary arts, the students are encouraged to perform on non-academic front before an audience. This helps them in loosening their inhibitions and building their confidence in expressing themselves before their peers and elders. Giving students exclusive responsibility of even simple things like the school tea club or for various jobs in an educational tour is another method found suitable for building up the leadership qualities in a student. Educational tours also play a role in exposing the student in taking care of himself and his mates in the outside world which forms another exercise in enlarging the student repertoire of leadership.
Architectural education is also directed, albeit intangibly, towards building in the students a positive attitude towards life in general and the profession in particular. Whether the classroom discussion is on bye laws or on management, teachers are always pointing out the ideal situation trying to inculcate in the students a proper value system and sowing the seeds of a healthy code of conduct in the students mind. This measure is incorporated so that on graduation the student is able to lead his team as a role model.
Schools of architecture are trying, through their programmes, to create good architects who can lead their teams. This is being done by various inherent and applied methods in both the academic and extra mural front. Even the general environment in architectural schools is conducive for the students to explore their own potential and to provide leadership in their area of expertise. Jury presentations, learning through seminars and group discussions, organizing tours and festivals are some of the modes which schools adopt to build leaders. The schools of architecture are, hence, playing a major role in inculcating leadership qualities in budding architects. This role of the school generally goes unrecognized as all these activities are happening on an intangible format.
Anil Chotmarada is a Faculty & Director in Gateway College of Architecture & Design, Sonipat-131001, India.