Entrepreneurial Education and Training for Architects

Sustained design excellence for an architect depends on the establishment of a structured, focused and well-managed architectural firm to support the architectural designer. Unfortunately Entrepreneurial Education and Training (EET) does not receive due attention in architectural programmes at universities, architectural conferences and in architectural publications. Because of this, many architects wrongly believe that good work is enough to ensure a consistent flow of good clients and a strong practice. As a result many architects are struggling to get their practices off the ground and the profession as a whole is losing stature and respect. It has been shown that firms started as a result of an entrepreneurial disposition will have a better chance of success than those started out of necessity, as many architects’ firms are. The result is that firms accept work which is not adequately remunerated, preventing them from reaching a strong negotiating position - one that could potentially allow them the agency to turn away clients whose only aim is shortterm profit. Ultimately the quality of the built environment suffers. This paper will consider some EET models and how these could be applied to architectural education and training before suggesting how the entrepreneurial orientation resulting from such education and training could be applied in the establishment of a new architects’ firm.