'Breaking Down Barriers' wins CIOB award

Tuesday, 07 March 2017

Breaking Down Barriers – a multidisciplinary project involving the School of Built Environment, the Henley Business School and the School of Arts and Communication Design – has received the Highly Commended Award for Innovation in Education and Training awarded by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB),under the CIOB International Innovation & Research Awards Scheme 2016.

The project at the University of Reading responds to the need to address economic, legal and moral imperatives to promote an inclusive society through innovation in built environment professional education and beyond. It achieves this by going beyond current expectations of best practice in provision of teaching and learning relating to inclusive design. 

The project was initiated by Christina Duckett (now a Visiting Fellow) ,Geoff Cook, Joe Doak, Jeanne-Louise Moys and Suha Jaradat. Christina and Geoff, (recipients of the award) work for the School of Built Environment, Joe works for the Henley Business School and Jeanne-Louise for the School of Arts and Communication Design. Suha was at the School of Built Environment, but has since left to work at another university. 

The original team has expanded to include colleagues from across the University and the remit of the original project has been extended as a result of funding from the Bowen Jenkins Legacy Fund.

The judges commented that “This innovation in education is a practical, engaging and demonstrable way to bring to life a real social challenge with widespread value and application. The innovation shows a genuine commitment to invest in the UK’s building stock and educate the next generation of professionals to ensure the needs of all users of a facility are firmly met.”

CIOB Innovation and Research Awards highlight the importance of innovation and research in raising performance levels, enhancing best practice and improving the quality of the built environment.