Sunderland College to deliver pilot CIH social housing qualification

Sunderland College has been selected to deliver one of three pilot qualifications designed to raise professional standards in the housing industry.

The college – part of Education Partnership North East (EPNE) – is working in partnership with Social Housing Innovation North East (SHINE), and six regional housing providers – Believe Housing, Beyond Housing, Bernicia, Gentoo, Home Group and Karbon Homes – to co-create and implement an innovative housing curriculum to professionalise the sector and improve the lives of residents by sharing best practice and driving continuous improvement.

As an approved Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) study centre, Sunderland College will deliver the Level 4 Certificate in Housing to train the next generation of housing managers who are looking to advance their careers.

Through a responsive and considered approach to education and skills training, the qualification will offer a blended delivery model combining remote learning with immersive technology and face-to-face teaching sessions alongside relevant site visits.

Delivered from the college’s Housing and Innovation Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) – a world-leading facility based in Sunderland which will train local people in modern methods of construction – the course covers housing law and regulation, housing policy, and customer service management, as well as delivering services to support health & wellbeing, resident involvement and professionalism in housing.

Learners will also participate in project-based assignments, engage with policy discussions, and analyse current housing issues in depth, preparing them for more senior roles in the sector.

Sonya Anderson, Sunderland College’s Campus Principal for HICSA and City Campus, said: “We are delighted to be working with the SHINE partnership to deliver the CIH Level 4 in Housing qualification as part of a pilot programme.

“This initiative is a significant step towards professionalising the housing industry.”

In January, 14 students attended an induction event at Sunderland College’s Bede Campus which included an overview of the qualification and curriculum, and the facilities which will be available during the course, including the latest immersive technology and virtual reality training environments.

Anthony Fellows, Lecturer & Programme Lead at Sunderland College, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with members of SHINE and housing providers to deliver the Level 4 Certificate in Housing.

“The course will provide students with the knowledge and understanding of professional housing practice to deliver effective housing services at a management level.

“We are excited that our housing curriculum will form part of our HICSA provision which will position Sunderland at the forefront of the North-East housing sector, providing progression paths for both secondary and higher education.”

To find out more about the CIH Level 4 in Housing qualification or other courses available through the housing curriculum, visit www.sunderlandcollege.ac.uk.