An examination of the perceived need and recommended body of knowledge for architectural internship programs in Kuwait

Abstract

This study stresses and reflects a professional concern for the state of architecture in Kuwait, with a specific emphasis on the development of competence of architectural students and recent graduates on professional knowledge areas/skills. Professional practice in Kuwait is perceived as a recent phenomenon that reflects the development of architecture and architects in the country. The apparent problem of the evolution of a professional base for the education and practice of architecture in Kuwait is the lack of professional development systems. Internship (being one professional development system) is not a requirement for graduation from the architectural program at Kuwait University or to practice architecture in Kuwait and to earn professional status. No formal internship model exists within the architectural field (education and practice) in Kuwait. Therefore, this study assesses the importance (perceived value, perceived need, and recommended time period) of internship programs in Kuwait and proposes recommended knowledge areas/skills for this architectural internship experience, before and after graduation from college. For the purpose of this study, the internship experience during college is defined as academic internship and the internship experience after graduation as practical training. The knowledge areas/skills recommended in this study could act as a base of information for designing local curricular guidelines for the initiation of future internship programs in Kuwait as integral parts of a professional architectural practice model. The study utilizes a descriptive survey design, which was quantitative in nature (utilizing a self-administered questionnaire) with an introduction of elements of qualitative research procedures (follow-up interviews) to support the objective data in a subjective manner. Based on the results of the study, four conclusions were drawn: (1) internship programs are perceived to be of value for students and recent graduates, (2) a perceived need exists for internship programs in Kuwait, (3) the recommended time period for an academic internship program ranges from 2-10 months and the recommended time period for a practical training program ranges from 1-2 years, and (4) agreement exists among the surveyed population on several knowledge areas/skills necessary for architectural internship programs in Kuwait.