The ability to work in kitchen design without a qualification, lack of industry recognition and financial reward for graduates have been cited as reasons for the closure of the Foundation Design in Kitchen Design at Bucks New University (BNU).

Having been unable to enrol the 12-20 students per annum, making the Foundation Degree (FdA) in Kitchen Design viable, the Academic Planning Committee decided to close the course.

Course leader Jayne Hall Cunnick stated: “The course has been set up to respond to the needs of people already working, so has been part time and online and struggles to recruit, despite our best efforts alongside those of our industry partners who have been loyal and supportive.

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“The main issue it seems is that anyone can work as a kitchen designer without a formal qualification.

“The Kitchen Design industry in general does not consistently recognise or reward those with the elevated levels of relevant design thinking and qualifications that the degree now provides.”

The Foundation Degree in Kitchen Design took three years of part-time study, at a cost of £5,600 per annum to students.

Those who have applied for a place on the Kitchen Design Degree have been offered alternative courses, such as BA (Hons) Interior Design.

While the  11 students already enroled on the course will be supported to the end of their design degree.

Hall Cunnick stated: “Our current students will be taught at the same high standard through until the end of their degree and our last cohort is scheduled to graduate in the summer of 2024, and we are very much looking forward to seeing this year’s graduates cross the stage this summer.”

She stated there was still a need for “skills, knowledge and thinking at all levels”, adding “my own doctoral research is exploring kitchen design futures as a way of changing dogmatic thinking and making space for new ideas and new norms.”

However, Hall Cunnick said unless the kitchen industry financially rewards graduates of further education, it is unlikely Bucks New University would offer a Kitchen Design Degree course in the future.

She stated: “The KBSA works tirelessly to support new young people entering the industry as well as many of our industry supporters such as Symphony Group, Blum, Quooker and many more, but unless students receive adequate recognition and recompense for their hard work and achievements from employers then it will be very difficult for a dedicated kitchen design qualification to be sustainable.”

The Kitchen Design Degree was originally launched in 2014, and course leader Hall Cunnick took over in 2020, overhauling teaching and learning, student voice opportunities and assessment procedures to be in line with all BNU courses.

It was only last year, BNU introduced a Batchelor of Arts honours degree in Kitchen Design which would be awarded after an additional year of study, following three years studying Foundation Degree or transferring from an equivalent qualification.