Architecture Education Methodology Comparison between KTH-Sweden and PUA-Egypt

Abstract

The increasing global emphasis on sustainable approaches demands new approaches to architecture education. In order to raise the level of architecture education; analyses of different education programs, finding comparable experiences and problems across borders and the creation of a network worldwide for the exchange of information are recognized methods of achieving and maintaining comparable national and global standards. With the aim of improving education and research activities, Faculty of Engineering at Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt; PUA (Private developing world university) and the Royal Institute of Technology; KTH (International technical university in Stockholm, Sweden) agreed on long term cooperation in 2009.This cooperation aim is to introduce the "Swedish" experience in teaching and education at PUA in order to provide graduates with the professional, intellectual and technological skills which enable them to compete in global job markets and cope with modernity. As a part of the cooperation agreement between PUA and KTH; a team work from KTH conducted a follow up and evaluation of Architecture program at PUA.The present paper focuses on the Architecture Curriculum followed in PUA as compared to the already adapted in Sweden. This comparison is undertaken in various directions covering methodologies used in both universities; besides in depth analysis of that methodology outcome, in the form of the final product quality (the graduate students) will be exposed. This comparative analysis gives us as academics a basis to strengthen our programs, to enhance our role in shaping undergraduate education, and to improve the quality of education.