{"id":776416,"date":"2025-02-28T10:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T10:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=776416"},"modified":"2025-03-03T09:53:59","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T09:53:59","slug":"london-school-of-architecture-becomes-part-of-online-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/london-school-of-architecture-becomes-part-of-online-university","title":{"rendered":"London School of Architecture becomes part of online university"},"content":{"rendered":"

In an announcement to students this morning (28 February), the school\u2019s board chair, Lucy Carmichael, said the school had entered into a \u2018strategic merger\u2019 with Reading-based built environment university, the UCEM. The news comes just weeks after the LSA\u2019s head and chief executive, Neal Shasore, left the school after three and a half years in the role.<\/p>\n

The merger will see the LSA officially become a part of the online institution once the higher education sector regulator, the Office for Students, signs off the partnership. That is expected to be some time next month.<\/p>\n

Carmichael said the LSA and the UCEM were aligned on a vision to \u2018earn while you learn\u2019, as well as prioritising cross-sector collaboration and interdisciplinary skills. She added in a statement that the partnership would \u2018redefine a sustainable model\u2019 for the mould-breaking school.<\/p>\n

She told the AJ: \u2018[Our] approach to architectural education enables students to \u201cearn while they learn\u201d, ensuring our diverse and talented student body are critically engaged with practice and highly employable.\u2019<\/p>\n

Carmichael added: \u2018We are excited about the opportunities created by joining forces with UCEM. This alliance will redefine a sustainable model for the LSA by driving forwards our ambitious shared aims within the wider context of professional built environment education.\u2019<\/p>\n

The move ends three months of uncertainty over the future of the school, which was dropped by its long-running validator, the University of Liverpool, in November.<\/p>\n

\"\"

UCEM’s offices in Reading<\/p>\n\t

Source:UCEM Graduation<\/p><\/div>\n

As a result, the LSA had temporarily stopped accepting applications for the academic year beginning September 2025. However, applications for the 2025\/26 academic year could reopen as early as April following the merger, the AJ understands.<\/p>\n

From that point on, the LSA will cease to exist as a single charitable entity, instead falling under the UCEM\u2019s stewardship. For the first time, certificates for future cohorts will carry the LSA\u2019s own name, rather than that of a validator university.<\/p>\n

The AJ understands another online education provider, the Open University, had also been considered by the LSA and its board of trustees. Negotiations with the UCEM are believed to have begun as far back as last summer.<\/p>\n

Separately, the university has applied to take ownership of the LSA\u2019s name and branding, according to an application with the government\u2019s Intellectual Property Office seen by the AJ. UCEM has since confirmed the school’s name will be retained.<\/p>\n

Peter McCrea, chair of the UCEM board, said: \u2018[We are] the leading provider of higher education to the built environment. The board is delighted about the potential that this strategic merger will offer both institutions.\u2019<\/p>\n

He continued: \u2018With UCEM\u2019s vision to become the centre of excellence for built environment education, growing our provision in the field of architecture through LSA\u2019s expertise alongside our current offer, is an exciting prospect for students and industry.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"

Neal Shasore<\/p>\n\t

Source:Holly-Marie Cato<\/p><\/div>\n

The update comes on the back of the departure of the LSA\u2019s head and chief executive Neal Shasore (pictured<\/em>), who stepped down with immediate effect earlier this month.<\/p>\n

The exact reason for Shasore\u2019s decision to step down has not been made public. However, the school said the search for a new head of school would start immediately and it hoped his replacement would have taken up the post by the start of the 2025\/26 academic year \u2018at the latest\u2019.<\/p>\n

A UCEM academic will take up the role of interim leader while the search for a replacement for the 35-year-old is found, the university told the AJ. The LSA\u2019s board of trustees will also cease to exist.<\/p>\n

The LSA launched in 2015 with an \u2018earn as you learn\u2019 model for Part 2 architecture students, currently has 66 first-year students on its MArch (Part 2) course and 57 second-years, who will be graduating this year.<\/p>\n

The UCEM, which was founded in 1919, has around 4,000 students, around 80 per cent of whom are in work.<\/p>\n

Degree courses already under way at the LSA will continue to be accredited by the University of Liverpool until July 2026.<\/p>\n

The UCEM and LSA say the strategic merger will be completed by May 2025 at the latest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In an announcement to students this morning (28 February), the school\u2019s board chair, Lucy Carmichael, said the school had entered into a \u2018strategic merger\u2019 with Reading-based built environment university, the UCEM. The news comes just weeks after the LSA\u2019s head and chief executive, Neal Shasore, left the school after three and a half years in …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":131789,"featured_media":776814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[681],"tags":[5331,3317,91149],"yoast_head":"\nLondon School of Architecture becomes part of online university<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The London School of Architecture (LSA) is set to become a part of online university the University College of Estate Management (UCEM)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/news\/london-school-of-architecture-becomes-part-of-online-university\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" 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