Some Models for Re-Shaping Learning Spaces

When learning space is a scarce resource, there can be a temptation for conversations about space to become increasingly dominated by spreadsheet generated data – sqm/student, sqm/staff, sqm/income, cost/sqm, % utilisation, and so on. It sometimes seems that the more we focus on this kind of data, the more insurmountable the problem of ‘not enough space’ becomes. But, how much space is ‘enough space’? This paper suggests the answer lies with key stakeholder groups who are empowered to collectively explore how the space of their university, college or other educational provision is described, designed, allocated, managed and evaluated.