framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...
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students‟ loans <strong>for</strong> lab top purchase. Cornish 145 argues that <strong>the</strong><br />
approach <strong>of</strong> facilitat<strong>in</strong>g laptops <strong>in</strong> education encourages a strong<br />
<strong>in</strong>frastructure <strong>of</strong> wireless network<strong>in</strong>g and provides an <strong>in</strong>teractive plat<strong>for</strong>m<br />
that facilitates resources and communications between architecture<br />
education and <strong>the</strong>ir student. The UAE universities are provided with <strong>the</strong><br />
required tools and wireless networks that enable <strong>the</strong> student to freely<br />
access <strong>the</strong> network<strong>in</strong>g resources. Yet, <strong>the</strong>re should be a proper<br />
<strong>framework</strong> <strong>of</strong> IT applications and freedom <strong>of</strong> use among <strong>the</strong> student and<br />
<strong>the</strong> staff which ensure proper utilisation <strong>of</strong> available technologies.<br />
3.5 Architecture Education <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE<br />
The UAE is becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly famous <strong>for</strong> its outstand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
architecture. Dubai city is becom<strong>in</strong>g one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most famous cities <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
world <strong>in</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> its skyscrapers landscape. Abu Dhabi is also <strong>in</strong>vest<strong>in</strong>g<br />
on its architecture projects. The capital city launched several projects<br />
such as <strong>the</strong> Diamond R<strong>in</strong>g hotel. The city <strong>of</strong> Sharjah on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand<br />
adopted <strong>the</strong> Islamic architecture style to which it is best suited so that<br />
<strong>the</strong> city has been selected as <strong>the</strong> cultural capital <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE. Architects<br />
f<strong>in</strong>d a great demand <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>novative and ambitious <strong>design</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
wealthy country. The <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g fact beh<strong>in</strong>d this statement can be<br />
understood with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> ord<strong>in</strong>ary observation and deduction. It<br />
is questionable that none <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>novative <strong>design</strong>ed build<strong>in</strong>g is actually<br />
<strong>design</strong>ed by a UAE national or a graduate from <strong>the</strong> UAE educational<br />
system.<br />
Consider<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>novative <strong>design</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> landmark build<strong>in</strong>gs i.e. Burj Al<br />
Arab, Burj Khalif, Palm tree, <strong>the</strong> Diamond R<strong>in</strong>g hotel and many o<strong>the</strong>rs,<br />
show that all <strong>the</strong>se landmark build<strong>in</strong>gs have been <strong>design</strong>ed by famous<br />
architects. Those who succeed <strong>in</strong> produc<strong>in</strong>g а concept <strong>design</strong> locally will<br />
<strong>of</strong>ten use cut and pasted idea from а library <strong>of</strong> images. This lack <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>novative <strong>design</strong>ers is <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>adequate education<br />
programme. Fur<strong>the</strong>r exam<strong>in</strong>ation, concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> academic <strong>in</strong>put<br />
145 Cornish, E. (1996) ‘Introduction’, <strong>in</strong> Cornish, E. [Ed] Explor<strong>in</strong>g Your Future. World Future Society,<br />
Berhesda, Maryland, p5-6.<br />
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