<\/p>\n
The RTPI writes:<\/p>\n
The IfA\u2019s insistence on some aspects of assessment being applied across all professions belies a lack of understanding of individual professions.<\/p>\n
The Group has lodged an appeal against the IfA\u2019s decision and is expecting a ruling in the summer.<\/p>\n
This setback means that universities will not be able to recruit students as planned this September.<\/p>\n
\u2018Employers urgently need to take on Chartered town planner apprentices to help deliver the country\u2019s place-shaping agenda and especially younger people who are the future of the profession.\u00a0 Government reforms of apprenticeships were intended to put employers in the driving seat \u2013 this decision shows that we are still passengers!\u2019<\/p>\n
Victoria Hills, RTPI Chief Executive, said: \u2018The RTPI firmly disagrees with the IfA\u2019s judgement on the validity of the proposed assessment method, which is in line with the high standard in place to assess professional competence in all our Chartered Members for 50 years.<\/p>\n
\u2018The IfA\u2019s insistence on some aspects of assessment being applied across all professions belies a lack of understanding of individual professions and an inflexible approach that prevents a diverse pipeline of new talents from entering the industry. With the number of apprentices falling 25% year on year, something is clearly going wrong.<\/p>\n
\u2018There is widespread concern in the built environment professions that the IfA lacks good understanding of the role of chartered professional bodies and their well established and rigorous assessment methods.<\/p>\n
\u2018We will work to seek policy change within the IfA that recognises the role of professional bodies in setting standards of competence and assessment methodology.\u2019<\/p>\n
There is strong interest for the Chartered Town Planning degree apprenticeship, with over 20 employers and six universities working to recruit this September.<\/p>\n
The Government approved the principle of\u00a0a Chartered Town Planning Apprenticeship in May 2017<\/a>, developed by the Trailblazer Group with help and support from the RTPI.<\/p>\n The IfA endorsed the scheme\u2019s Apprenticeship Standard in January this year which sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of successful apprentices to be eligible for Chartered Membership of the RTPI. The assessment method is based on the\u00a0RTPI\u2019s current Assessment of Professional Competence\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0for admitting Chartered Members.<\/p>\n But in April, the IfA cited a number of concerns in the assessment method \u2013 the end-point assessment plan (EPA) \u2013 and did not approve it.<\/p>\n So far, the IfA has approved fewer than half of apprenticeships developed by employers.<\/p>\n