Skills Gap Review: The Role of Architectural Practice Training

Abstract

The architecture skills gap is a lack of knowledge and competency in professional practice activities and processes among graduates. However, Practice-Based Training (PBT) is supposed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional practice experience. Therefore, this study aims to highlight PBT's role in the architecture skills gap.
The systematic literature review and thematic analysis methodology were used to identify and analyse relevant literature to answer the research questions posed. The study identifies the challenges faced by interns during PBT as contributors to the skills gap. Thus indicating a relationship between the quality of PBT and the skills gap. Also, specific technical skills for architectural practice in Nigeria were identified from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) PPE syllabus and Architects' conditions of engagement contract document as the indices for skill assessment. Further research opportunities were identified for developing a tool for evaluating the skills that students/interns and graduates lack. In conclusion, the inability of industry supervisors to train interns and the absence of a universally documented framework for PBT can be attributed as a significant contributor to poor-quality PBT. Therefore, a framework is recommended for effective architectural PBT in Nigeria.