REPORT FROM THE RESARCH MEETING IN KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, held on 9 and 10 June 2014
Fifth meeting of all Partners institutions participating in Joint Tempus project “Restructuring of Study Programme in Architecture to Long-cycle Integrated Master in line with EU standards” was held in the Library Conference room of Technical Educational Institute of Athens in Athens, Greece, on 10th and 11th of April 2014.
Main topics of the meeting were:
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Presentation of ongoing activities concerning accreditation of the new architectural curriculum at UOM and UPKM.
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The internal evaluation of new curriculum set in line with EU standards (tour de table discussion),
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The external evaluation of the new curriculum (tour de table discussion),
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Exchange of experience on the students’ and teaching mobility (tour de table discussion),
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Exchange of experience on the administration and library (visit to the TEI-A Library) and
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Discussion about forthcoming activities concerning next meeting in Kosovska Mitrovica.
Following participants were present on the Meeting:
Hosts from Athens:
Prof. John Kiousopoulos, Assoc. Prof. Vassillos Pagounis, Prof. Zoe Georgiadi, Prof. George Panagiaris, Mr. Vangelis Asprogerakas, Ioannis Spyropoulos, Mr. Fanis Kafantaris, Mrs. Christina Vasilopoulou, Prof. Elias Nerantsis, Mrs. Artemis Potamianou, Mrs. Teo Fokidou, Mrs. Lena Ramoudi, Mr. Alexandros Tagoulis, Mrs Vicky Tstiftili, Mrs. Olga Ioannou and student Aggeliki Foka, on behalf of Technological Educational Institute in Athens;
From Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning in Riga:
Ass Prof. Dr Ugis Bratuskins, Dean, Prof. Dr Sandra Treija
From Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana:
Peter Gabrielčič, Dean, Ass. Prof. Dr Alenka Fikfak, Mrs. Mojca Potočnik Kogovšek, Mrs. Renata Stella Čop
From Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica:
Prof. Dr Dragan Komatina, Prof. Dr Goran Radović, Prof. Dr Veljko Radulović, Vice Dean, Irena Rajkovic, Sanja Paunovic and Radmila Kovačević
From Faculty of Technical Sciences in Kosovska Mitrovica:
Doc. Dr Saja Kosanović, Prof. Dr Nebojsa Arsić, Dean, Prof. Dr Velimir Dutina, Doc. Dr Velimir Stojanović and M. Arch. Branislav Folić.
Prior to the first day of meeting, on the late afternoon of 9th of April, Prof. John Kiousopoulos and M. Arch. Olga Ioannou arranged a walk around Athens quarters Monastiraki and Plaka, giving the initial program information and guidelines.
Day 1 – 10th of April
The meeting was opened by the host, Prof. Dr John Kiousopoulos. After the welcome speech of prof. Vassilios Pagounis, Erasmus+ Department coordinator and Practical Training Department Coordinator, Prof. Kiousoupulous introduced the themes of the meeting.
Doc. Dr Dragan Komatina, the RESARCH Project Coordinator, gave an overview of the activities concerning the process of accreditation of the new curriculum set during the project. The issue of recognition of the architectural profession as the regulated discipline was present during the whole process of accreditation. Since the process is still not finished, there is a question of success of the five year curriculum proposition.
Doc. Dr Saja Kosanović gave an overview of the past activities concerning the preparation of the documentation for accreditation, for the studies of Architecture on Faculty of Technical Sciences in Kosovska Mitrovica. Fully prepared documents were handed to the commission on the end of January. Partners were informed about constrains concerning the five year curriculum and requirements from National Accreditation Commission which do not recognize architecture as a regulated profession. Prof. Kosanović also gave an overview of the recent Project Monitoring Visit to the Institution.
On the initiative of beneficiary partners, the discussion about the internal and external evaluation process took the place. It was concluded that internal evaluation of the curriculum should be done by EU partners in a regulated form, and the detailed guidelines will be proposed by Prof. Dr Alenka Fikfak. Partners from Podgorica and Kosovska Mitrovica will follow the proposed format and provide the partners with information based on which the overall evaluation report will be written.
The study program of the Department for Interior architecture, Decorative arts and Design, was presented by the Dean of Faculty of Applied Arts, Prof. Zoe Georgiadou. In the next presentation, colleagues from the same department explained the students’ project named “Decorative Arts-surface design: a project for the students’ restaurant”.
Lecture given by Prof. George Panagiaris, Institutional coordinator of LLP Program, gave an overview about the facts concerning student and staff mobility at TEI of Athens. There are three types of mobility: student, teaching and training. Lecture led to the discussion on mobility benefits, ECTS recognition, diversity of learning outcomes etc.
Prof. Dr John Kiousopoulos then organized a walking tour through TEI-A educational facilities, including laboratories and classrooms.
After the completion of first day meeting session and the working lunch at TEI, the visit to Hellenic Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency was organized. Members of the HQAA Board of Directors presented the scope of their work and explained the Quality Assurance Procedures for HEIs in Greece. General structure of their evaluation report concentrates on following aspects: Curriculum of all Study Programmes; Teaching quality; Research activity; Supporting services; Collaboration with social, cultural and production organizations and Strategic planning.
In the afternoon, hosts organized the visit to the construction site of Renzo Piano’s New Building of the SNFCC at Faliro, Athens, and, in the evening, the friendly dinner in one of the most popular parts of Athens.
Day 2 – 11th of April
The second day meeting was opened with the presentation of “Strategic plan for Athens/Attica 2021”, held by Spatial Planner Vangelis Asprogerakas from the Organisation for Planning and Environmental Protection of Athens. Mr. Asprogerakas gave an overview of the direction in which Athens is heading concerning the lack of public green spaces. In that sense, he presented the project “Integrated Proposal for the protection and the enhancement of the Tatoi National Park”.
Fanis Kafantaris and Christina Vasilopoulou, from the School of Architecture at NTUA, presented the winning concept of architectural competition “Rethinking Athens: Towards a New City Centre”. The project tackles many aspects of modern ecological improvement of the city centre. The lecture was also interesting from the aspect of architectural education. Project competition evaluation included following criteria: Transformation of the city center into a destination for the public instead of traffic area for motor vehicles; The functional, aesthetic and public upgrade of the city centre; The re-enhancement of commercial, administrative and financial activities in the city; Repopulation of the City centre; Highlighting of the historical and cultural identity; The improvement of the quality life for all citizens.
Prof. Dr Ugis Bratuskins gave a lecture about the International Summer School “Get Well City” organized by Faculty of Architecture in Riga. He pointed out the importance of cooperation and interaction with community concerning the student workshops. It is a successful example of design-build student projects that are designed to serve community. This could be interpreted as a guide for the similar projects that may be organized by non EU partners. Prof. Bratuskins handed out the promotion material and invited students from partner institutions to join this year Summer School that will be held from July 26th – August 9th, 2014 in Cesis, Latvia.
Alexandros Tgoulis gave a lecture about “Open Education and Open Coursware in TEI-A”. He presented possibilities of distance E-learning. Lecture led to discussion on usefulness of the proposed concept for the architectural and overall education. The overall conclusion was that this type of learning is not suitable for architectural education.
Open Discussion concerning the Exhibition of RESARCH members and student architectural work followed. It was decided that exhibition will be held in Kosovska Mitrovica on 9th of June and each institution will make a digital presentation that will be toggled on the five separate video screens. Presentation will include best work of students and employees and will present the institution and current architectural program.
Upon the meeting session, the tour through TEI Library with an accent on the architectural book fund was organized. After the working lunch, organized bus tour through Athens with the visit to Dimitris Pikionis Playground was made. In the evening, the visit to the Megaron Musiki – The Athens Concert Hall was made. All partner participants were given the extraordinary opportunity to enjoy the Tribute Concert to Composer Mikis Thodorakis, performed by the Athens Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra.
The next consortium meeting in appointed for June and will be held in Kosovska Mitrovica.
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