The Engineering and Computer Science College at ADU received accreditation for its Bachelor of Architecture program in January 2010, and started enrolling students for the Spring Semester. The program has received accreditation from the UAE Ministry of Higher Education, which confirms the high international standards of the program, a very important criterion in the accreditation process for higher education programs in the UAE.
Dr. Nabil Ibrahim, the ADU Chancellor, is very pleased with this unique accomplishment of the Engineering College at ADU, which has so far launched 9 bachelor degrees. 25 students have started their first classes in the Architecture program after passing the prerequisite tests which qualify them for the program.
Dr. Nabil pointed out that the program will form a solid basis for local professionals who want to specialize in Architecture and its related fields. The program curriculum has been designed to suit the needs of the local environment whether it is coastal, desert or urban, as each of these environments require special designs and models of architecture which take into consideration all weather factors of each of these environments.
He added that the mission of the architecture program is to manage and qualify students for international professions in the construction industry, create opportunities for students to study in a high quality, educational environment and sustain the supply of professional human capital to construction enterprises.
Dr. Ali Nazmy, Dean of the Engineering & Computer Science College, mentioned that the field of Architecture is concerned with accommodating human activity within interior and exterior environments. It focuses on the implementation of activities that shape the well-being of human settlements. Working closely with engineers, construction managers, urban planners, interior designers and landscape architects, architects must identify all the needs of different user groups using the building, prepare a program for the project to meet these needs, develop conceptual designs, conduct design development, prepare working drawings and contractual documents, and supervise the erection of buildings. This new degree offers courses in these topics which are an integral part of an undergraduate curriculum for an architect.
The goal of the Architecture Program is to graduate architects equipped with knowledge and skills to be competitive in the job market. The degree was designed to be recognized as a professional degree in most regions of the world including North America, Europe and all Arab countries. This will help put graduates on the track to become registered and licensed architects if they move to other countries.
The new Architecture program endeavors to meet the demand for graduates in architecture which is escalating and needs to be sustained for many years. Growth in the construction industry in the Emirates is driven by the need to develop the property sector. The impact of mega projects already underway such as the Al Raha Beach Development, Al Reem Island Development, the Abu Dhabi Airport Expansion, the Mohammed Bin Zayed city and the Shams Abu Dhabi project by Sorouh Real Estate demand the ever-increasing services of architecture and construction professionals.
A grand total of less than 300 graduates emerged from Architecture undergraduate programs in the UAE in the past four academic years. This number cannot meet the huge demand for qualified professionals needed to serve the industry, especially in Abu Dhabi.
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© Press Release 2010
