During my Trainee Placement

Each provincial council oversees and monitors the ongoing trainee placements in its province. To assist with this, the trainee must submit a monthly training form online. After every six months, the trainee and mentor are required to complete a periodic report. A new training placement plan is also drawn up every six months. 

Trainees must work a minimum of 120 hours a month at their training placement. At the end of the training, we will calculate the average number of hours per month. Holiday months can be offset by months involving more than 120 hours of work at the trainee placement.

Site supervision as a crucial aspect of the training. The gaining of site experience is given little coverage in the education course, which makes the training placement the ideal time to explore all aspects of site supervision as an architect.

Training Forms and Periodic Reports

The monthly training forms and the periodic reports must be completed using the digital trainee system. On entry to the list of trainees you will have access to our member portal. You can log into the member portal using your ID card or Itsme. 

Once you have completed and closed your trainee form, your mentor will receive a request to approve it. Once six trainee forms have been approved, the system will automatically generate a periodic report for you and your mentor. The data entered to the forms will be automatically included in the periodic report. 

Training platform guidelines (Dutch)

• Training platform guidelines for mentors
• Training platform guidelines for trainees

Trainee Plan

A new training plan is created at the beginning of the training placement and at the beginning of each semester. This training plan is drawn up by the mentor in consultation with the trainee. The training plan indicates the tasks to be taken on by the trainee in the upcoming period of the placement, and makes explicit mention of the projects involved. The training plan is signed by the trainee and mentor and submitted through the member portal or sent to stage@ordevanarchitecten.be .

Specimen trainee plan (Dutch)

Interim evaluations

During your training placement, the provincial council will invite you for several interim evaluations. We aim to schedule three evaluations during the training placement and a final evaluation at the end of training. 

These evaluations can take place at the office of the provincial council or online through a video conversation. 

We ask our trainees to prepare and bring two files to the meeting. At the meeting we will review your files, enquire about the various projects and tasks you have undertaken during your training placement and discuss your experience of your training.

The training auditors will provide you with points for attention and tips to bear in mind as your training progresses. 

Change of Training Placement?

If you would like to change your mentor, you should immediately inform your provincial council or Teams Stage at stage@ordevanarchitecten.be . 

You will need to bring the following items in order:

• training forms and periodic reports for your original training placement;
• request for your new training placement
  • trainee contract
  • training plan
  • time allocation form

If your new mentor belongs to a different provincial council, it will be considered as a relocation. We will see to it internally that your documents are directed to the appropriate provincial council.

When making a change, you will not lose training time as a result of administrative processing. The provincial council can approve your application retroactively. 

Our trainee contract provides for a standard notice period of one month. You are free to agree a different time with your mentor.

Interruption of your Training

There is an option to interrupt training temporarily for a maximum of two months if, for example, you wish to search for a new training placement or are forced to take sick leave. During this period you will remain entered to the list of trainees. 

If the period of interruption exceeds two months, you must request your removal from the list of trainees. You will not be allowed to practise as an architect (temporarily).

The provincial council will make a decision over the interruption, based on the information provided by the trainee and the mentor. The period of interruption is not counted as part of the training period. 

The trainee may resume training after a period of no more than two months. Re-entry to the list of trainees will not be required as you will have remained registered during the interruption. 

If the trainee concludes a new training contract, they will resume their training from the date on which the new training contract was agreed. The new training contract must be submitted to the provincial council within a term of two months, together with the time allocation and the trainee plan.

If the trainee continues on the existing training contract, they will resume their training from the date on which the provincial council was notified. Notification must be given within a term of two months.

Removal from the List of Trainees

The trainee may request their removal from the list of trainees at any time. Please note: once removed, you are no longer a member of the Order of Architects, and you cannot practise the profession. If you would like to resume training at a later date, you will need to reregister.

The trainee period preceding removal from the list may be considered in the final evaluation of your training. In principle, a training placement must be completed within a period of three years. Periods of removal from the list of trainees are not included in this timeframe.

Oath on removal from the list of trainees (Dutch)

Personal Engagements 

The trainee may take on personal engagements during training. This is not possible, however, for trainees in a civil service position or on a training placement outside an architectural firm.

A mentor must allow the trainee the opportunity to handle their own assignment (site supervision, administrative work, etc.). Personal engagements must be reported to the provincial council and the mentor. The mentor is expected to address any questions the trainee may have in this respect. Please note: this must not compromise the quality of the training in any way.

The trainee is also required to take out insurance to cover their personal assignments. 

Theoretical Competency and Practical Experience Requirements

Theoretical Competency

Broadening and consolidation of knowledge acquired through academic study

This involves demonstrating an understanding of the context and the cultural and philosophical implications of architecture (history, theory, etc.) against the backdrop of other cultural domains.

It is important that the following components be refined in the course of practical training:

• Ability to develop a transdisciplinary problem approach;
• Understanding architecture in its political, social, economic and administrative context.

Design or the ability to think creatively, improvise, innovate and guarantee design leadership are refined for the following components in the practical training:

• Listening to, analysing and interpreting the needs of the client, users and society;
• Ability to transfer knowledge (technical, legal, financial, environmental, safety, etc.) to design;
• Ability to use and integrate a variety of materials, construction elements and methods;
• Ability to collaborate with and manage other specialists.

Technology and environment

These competencies are in the area of construction technology. The construction site experience undertaken in the course of practical training plays a vital role. The following components will most certainly be covered:

• Knowledge of the properties and uses of materials and workmanship;
• Knowledge of the environmental implications of construction methods;
• Knowledge of construction processes and operations on site (methods, timing and safety issues);
• Knowledge of and ability to apply technical regulations;
• Aptitude for detail and so respect the global project design;
• Ability to account for the costs of technical solutions;
• Aptitude for incorporating a variety of construction materials and technologies.

Industry and professional experience

In addition to the general competencies outlined above it is vital that professional experience be added to the knowledge gained through academic study. This experience must result in the ability to lead a project independently and to do so in the specific (office) work environment.

Practical experience

• Ability to prepare and update production information: working drawings, descriptions, specifications, etc.;
• Knowledge of public and private procurement procedures;
• Ability to prepare and coordinate invites to tender;
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations for construction sites;
• Knowledge (and monitoring) of management methods;
• Understanding of time restrictions (planning);
• Aptitude for cost control and project management in the construction phase;
• Ability to deliver as-built services (as-built drawings, user and service manuals);
• Consideration of third party interests and ability to integrate aims and interests of multiple actors.

Practice management

• Knowledge of the roles and position of the architect in the construction process and industry;
• Knowledge of intellectual property rights;
• Marketing knowhow and aptitude;
• Knowledge of legal and technical aspects of architectural practice (taxation, financial management, etc.);
• Knowledge of Human Resources Management;
• Knowledge of financial management in architectural practice;
• Some understanding of general management principles (and, more particularly, architectural practice management);
• Professional ethics and deontology;
• Ability and alertness to the need to offer advice in the interests of client, users and society;
• Knowledge, understanding, respect for and ability to interpret laws and regulations and take social and environmental factors into account;
• Ability to accurately assess own skills and limitations in competence, willingness to improve, ability to draw on other skills (and communicate own limitations in competence);
• Some understanding of the range of contractual relations involved in architectural services and the ability to set and negotiate fees;
• Ability to participate in or assemble an interdisciplinary team and to motivate and lead its members;
• Ability to assume and discharge responsibilities (insurance);
• Ability to understand, find, gather, give and manage information with clarity and efficiency;
• Ability to negotiate, mediate and resolve conflicts;
• Ability to organise and implement a quality policy.
   

Practical Experience

Concept design

• Discuss the construction programme, in the presence of the client if relevant;
• Draw up a contract of professional charges;
• Request and assess urban planning regulations;
• Visit site to conduct or interpret a survey;
• In the case of alterations: survey and draw as-is situation;
• Concept design drawings;
• Final concept design;
• Global cost estimate;
• Additional discussions;
• Appoint safety coordinator;
• Discuss health and safety plan.

Planning Application File

Full layout of a planning application file for digital submission, to include:

• All necessary plans (in correct format);
• Online completion of planning application details (statistical data);
• Application for planning approval;
• EPC info + appointment of EPC provider;
• Descriptive note;
• All other documents.

Production information

A) BUILDING WORKS/FINISHES:

• Soil investigation and interpretation of test results;
• Information on superstructure including working drawings and technical working details;
• Discussions with structural engineer, check report and link to production information;
• Bill of quantities;
• Detailed schedule, summary + priced bill
• Information on finishes, including working and detail drawings, bill of quantities and schedules for windows, exterior doors, floor and tiles, ironmongery, joinery;
• On large projects, finishes schedules under the overall schedule.

B) MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL:

• Production information on mechanical, including plans, bill of quantities and schedules for: electrical/lighting/data/plumbing/ heating/ventilation/lifts;
• On large projects these technical M&E studies are done by specialist consultants and coordinated by the architect.

C) INTERIOR DESIGN/LANDSCAPING: OPTIONAL

• Production information on interior design/landscaping including scale drawings, bill of quantities and schedules for built-in furniture, decoration, flooring, free-standing furniture, garden landscaping;
• In collaboration with interior designer and landscape architect in some cases, and coordinated by the architect.

Obtaining prices/tender action

• Organisation of tenders and price quotes;
• Appraisal of bids received and assessments of tenders;
• Drafting of contract documents.

Operations on site

• General supervision of works, site meetings and site reports;
• Discussions with contractors in office or on site;
• Visits to companies or contractor workshops;
• Progress monitoring and invoices;
• Agreement of practical completion + certificate of practical completion;
• Agreement of completion + certificate of completion;
• Agreement of statement of final account.

Optional administrative services:

• Appraisals;
• Party wall agreements;
• Schedules of condition.