Welcome from the Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning
It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you to the web pages of our Department of Architecture and Urban Planning-AUP, the latest academic department established within the College of Engineering in September 2009. Operating at the intersection of art and design, technology, and society, the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at Qatar University addresses societal and environmental challenges facing the local and regional built environment and focuses on the opportunities those challenges create.
The recent rapid development of Qatar is associated with a fast track urbanization process, marked by large scale work, learning and residential environments, and mixed use developments with sustained attempts to strike a balance between tradition and modernity. The unprecedented growth in the building and urban development industry, already considered the second largest industry in the state of Qatar—following the Oil and Gas industries, has created a pressing demand for architects and planners with specialized training to design, plan and direct the activities of the industry. This need has been further intensified by the fast pace of development, the emerging innovative design ideas, the rising demand for large buildings and the need for new building types, the introduction of new materials, new structural systems, and new methods and management techniques. These growth indicators at both the architectural and urban scales mandate the presence of academic units and programs that address the practical realities of local and regional development while graduating professionals capable of addressing these realities efficiently and effectively.
Responding to these demands and challenges, the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning offers innovative undergraduate and graduate programs amenable to graduating professionals capable of creating and managing sustainable environments. Our programs strike a balance between knowledge content and knowledge delivery while implementing hands-on experiential, active, and outcome based learning approaches. While this newly established department has its roots with the establishment of the architectural engineering program back in 2006-which will no longer accept new applications, the department will offer the following two degrees:
- B.Arch-Bachelor of Architecture, a five year undergraduate professional degree that started in September 2009.
- MUPD-Master of Urban Planning and Design, a two year graduate degree which will be launched in September 2010.
The Bachelor of Architecture program, B.Arch. is developed in light of the recommendations of the UNESCO Charter for Architectural Education, and translates current international and regional trends into a balanced and responsive curriculum. In parallel to the graduation of the first intake, the department will be seeking accreditation from international professional bodies. As well, the department will be seeking recognition for the 2 year urban planning and design graduate program since it is built on criteria, mandates, and procedures followed by international professional bodies. The content and delivery of our programs is dependent on the continuously evolving worldwide higher education in architecture and urban planning.
We are fortunate to be part of a growing and dynamic learning and research institution through its current implementation of futuristic pedagogical approaches and investment in educational and research infrastructure. Capitalizing on these opportunities our students’ intake is governed by rigorous admission process, our facilities reflect up to date instructional technology, and our faculty members are responsive educators with research and professional expertise that foster the effective delivery of our programs. In this respect, the department vision is to become a leading provider of architectural and urban education in the region.
Whatever the purpose of your visit to our website is, I invite you to navigate different pages, to know more about the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning and explore our programs and resources.
Professor Ashraf M. Salama, Ph.D. FRSA, FHEA
Head of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning
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