Ashley Wheaton UCEM Principal

Principal Thoughts: Higher Education Policy must cater for part-time students too

Welcome to the latest edition of Ashley Wheaton’s ‘Principal Thoughts’. In this edition, Ashley calls upon the government and media to include alternative learning routes when discussing higher education, urging…
People walking with night lit buildings behind

Introducing the UCEM Teaching Excellence Awards: What are they and who were the inaugural winners?

UCEM is committed to academic excellence and recruits experts from industry and academia to ensure students have the very best chance of passing their degrees and pursuing fulfilling careers within…
Students at a laptop

Technology within education is great and ever-improving but the students must come first: UCEM’s Vice Principal – Online Education, Lynne Downey, responds to the Education Secretary

Damian Hinds, the UK’s Education Secretary, yesterday challenged the tech industry to launch an ‘education revolution’ for schools, colleges and universities. The MP is calling upon tech organisations to develop…
Principal Thoughts

Principal Thoughts: The Use of Drones in Construction

Welcome to the latest edition of Ashley Wheaton’s ‘Principal Thoughts’. In this edition, Ashley provides his insight into the growing use of drones in construction and the benefits they bring…
Cranes against a sunset

Principal Thoughts: The Hackitt Report and the Impact on the Built Environment

Welcome to the latest edition of Ashley Wheaton’s ‘Principal Thoughts’. In this edition, Ashley provides his insight into the likely implications of the Hackitt report and speaks with colleagues Jane…
Dr Afolabi Dania

Construction techniques and technology: a guest blog featuring Dr Afolabi Dania, MSc Construction Management programme Leader at UCEM

In this latest guest blog, we speak with Dr Afolabi Dania about his background in the construction industry, the key topics he teaches throughout the MSc Construction Management programme and…
James Grinnell

Q&A: As we’re nearing the end of National Apprenticeship Week, we asked one employer what they look for in an apprentice

The Built Environment sector is currently experiencing a critical skills shortage. When the recession hit in 2008, the sector lost around 140,000 jobs. But we need construction talent more than…
Architect and foreman in front of a building

My life in the Built Environment: Guest blog by David Hunt, UCEM’s BSc Access Module Leader

Early interest in real estate I wanted to do a job where I would not be stuck in an office all day. The big attraction of real estate when I…
Principal Thoughts

Principal Thoughts: How are the delayed apprenticeship standards affecting the Built Environment skills crisis?

Welcome to the latest edition of Ashley Wheaton’s ‘Principal Thoughts’. This time, Ashley looks at the impact the apprenticeship standards hold-up is having on the Built Environment skills pipeline –…
A man poring over architectural floor plans

Yes, we need a major increase in degree apprenticeships – but is it enough to solve the UK’s worsening skills crisis?

Guest blog by Stephen Bartle, Director Commercial and Business Development, University College of Estate Management Last week – as reported in The Independent - Chairman of the Education Select Committee,…
Principal Thoughts

Principal Thoughts: What does 2018 hold for the Built Environment? Certainly more advances in technology – but, hopefully, more and better talent.

Welcome to the latest edition of Ashley Wheaton’s ‘Principal Thoughts’. This time, Ashley looks at how it’s becoming ever more apparent that the current levels of training and education for…
University students drinking coffee and using laptop

Online Academy Update: UCEM launches new website and courses

At UCEM, we’re committed to providing high-quality courses for specific learning needs within the sector. We recently spoke to Carmel Smith, Online Academy Product Manager, who explains what our Online…