HEDQF The Higher Education Design Quality Forum

HEDQF is a registered charity and exists to promote high-quality design in university buildings and facilities, in the belief that the quality of the estate enhances the student experience of teaching and learning, the effective pursuit of research and the process of public engagement.

The Forum pursues these aims through several means:

• • visits to university buildings of particular interest in the UK and overseas
• • dissemination of information on best practice and latest thinking through workshops, seminars and debates
• • an annual conference on a specific topic.

The Forum also undertakes and publishes research relevant to promoting high-quality design in higher education. Research focuses both on innovation (looking forward) and lessons to be learned (looking back) from projects in terms of student satisfaction, research and teaching outcomes, as well as operational success over time.

Membership is open to all those in the UK and beyond with an interest in these themes and the intention is to maintain a balance between representatives from higher education (both academics and estates professionals) and those from architecture, design, engineering and construction.

HEDQF was established around 20 years ago as an initiative of the RIBA in order to promote a stronger understanding of issues affecting its clients and to promote good design in a fast-changing sector with high public visibility and impact. In 2014, the Forum decided, with the encouragement of the RIBA, to become independent, though with strong support for particular projects and initiatives (of which this book is the latest example).

The new organisation is governed by a board of 20 trustees, again with a balance from higher education and the design professionals. There are two categories of membership: Founder Members who have made a substantial contribution to the set-up costs of the new organisation and Ordinary Members who pay an annual subscription. Associate membership is also available to, for example, funding bodies, research councils or other professional bodies. All members are encouraged to play an active role in the Forum and to suggest and organise themes for visits, debates and research. A number of officers and sub-committees take particular responsibility for membership, finance, research, events and conferences.

The Forum welcomes new members and enquiries should be made to [email protected]