Architecture and the Case of Internships

Architectural internships, for most practicing architects I know, are either an unnecessary headache or a means to get some affordable “hands on deck”. For the students looking for an internship though, it is a critical juncture of their lives. Many are of the opinion that internships aren’t required at all while many consider it a rite of passage to professional practice.

The way I see it, I believe it is a good thing to give students a flavour of what professional practice feels like, before they step in to the big bad world. Academia is such an insulated, cocooned life that for some students, internship can be a pretty harsh awakening. For some interns, working in an architectural practice helps them to understand what skills are more likely to get them employment quickly. For others still, applying their thoughts in a real world scenario is a thrill.

The problem with internship though, is the manner in which it is implemented. The Council of Architecture (CoA) is, of course, least bothered about what is happening to architectural education and practice in this country. Yes, I know this statement won’t be appreciated although having seen the (lack of) initiatives by the CoA since my academic days, I can’t say much otherwise.

The schools/institutes imparting architectural education are the next factor to be considered. Hardly any institute prepares the student for practice. I have (tried to) mentor a lot of interns over the years and I am always surprised by the complete apathy shown by the institutes towards internship. All that they are interested in is collecting a full semester’s fee while not having to provide anything in return. Some institutes don’t even bother to give the student a letter to submit to the office. In most cases, the “Internship Coordinator” sends forms to students by email and asks them to submit them within a day or two. I have heard stories about institutes where they did not even conduct classes due to a paucity of faculty. The best thing I have heard from an intern though, is when he told me that in response to a question to his teacher, he was told that he will learn about the particular subject matter during his job anyway so he should not bother asking about it!

The third party here are the architectural firms. I have only come across two firms which have a structured internship program where interns pass through almost all stages of a project, getting to understand, even if at a macro level, what stages a project passes through to become a reality. Even if a firm does not have a structured internship program, giving the students an opportunity to experience a project through different stages is the least they can do. Treating interns as visualisers or draughtsman is what most firms consider internships. Yes, I know, they might not have the requisite skills to be given a standalone assignment but hey, didn’t you know that already? To add to this, the audacity some firms have in asking interns to get their own laptops and/or give a security deposit? Really, it is worse than the mafia demanding protection money, and feeling wholly entitled to demand it.

The last factor here is the intern. Rare is the intern who displays initiative and diligence. Rarer still, is the intern who displays inquisitiveness and who ask questions. The one group which exasperates me is the one who choose to take the path of recommendations instead of trying the path of applications. I am sure everyone has experienced it and I do not think I need to dwell upon this. Except, to say to parents who indulge in this practice, that you are impeding your child’s ability to function in this world as a professional. What I have experienced, in general, is that the lack of support and guidance in academia coupled with the new architectural education ethos of less constructive criticism and more “follow-my-instructions” kind of teaching, has resulted in a generation of soon-to-be-architects who are apprehensive when it comes to asking questions and exploring the world that architecture has to offer.

I do not have a grand plan or solution to change the status quo. However, I do believe that each one of us can influence the world around us, at our own grand or infinitesimal scale, to make a positive impact on the profession as well as create awareness in the minds of people who employ architects. Given the complete disregard for the CoA by government bodies and PSUs, and the minuscule number of representations by the CoA for the betterment of the profession, it will be a long time before we can expect architects to be treated like professionals. Unethical practices by architects are beyond the scope of this piece however, what we impart to the future generation will always be a reflection of our own ethicality and morality.

It is imperative that we - the Council, the academicians, the practising architects, and the parents - look within before we try to take the moral high ground and point fingers at students/interns who are but a reflection of the values we have propagated, within and outside the profession.

Image source: Architexts (http://architexts.us/2011/06/13/summer-interns-2011/)