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framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

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Architecture is <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e with <strong>the</strong> UAE‟s mission <strong>for</strong> its nationals by<br />

prepar<strong>in</strong>g highly qualified graduates <strong>for</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional employment <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

field <strong>of</strong> architecture. The programme teaches <strong>the</strong> students <strong>the</strong><br />

fundamental skills and knowledge <strong>of</strong> architecture, while <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

technological, artistic, socio-cultural, legal, and f<strong>in</strong>ancial dimensions.<br />

The program promotes pr<strong>of</strong>essional ethical values, cultural diversity,<br />

and environmental awareness. The nature <strong>of</strong> study <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se two<br />

Architecture school differs from <strong>the</strong> department <strong>of</strong> architecture <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r universities. The program consists <strong>of</strong> one 160 hours <strong>of</strong> required<br />

credit and has been <strong>design</strong>ed to meet <strong>the</strong> standards <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National<br />

Architecture Accredit<strong>in</strong>g Board (NAAB) <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> United States (U.S).<br />

Unlike <strong>the</strong> departments <strong>of</strong> architecture, <strong>in</strong> Architecture school <strong>the</strong><br />

students start <strong>the</strong>ir first year study<strong>in</strong>g basic architecture skills <strong>in</strong> which<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>design</strong> <strong>studio</strong> is also present. This means that <strong>the</strong> students start<br />

build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir architectural knowledge from <strong>the</strong>ir first year study<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong><br />

university. At this programmes students are enrolled <strong>for</strong> five years<br />

followed by tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g to meet <strong>the</strong> NAAB standards.<br />

4.3.3 Design Studio <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE<br />

The <strong>design</strong> <strong>studio</strong> has been long considered to be <strong>the</strong> backbone <strong>for</strong><br />

architecture education, where <strong>the</strong> student experiences projects that<br />

imitate real-life ones. The students <strong>in</strong>side <strong>the</strong> <strong>design</strong> <strong>studio</strong> have <strong>the</strong><br />

freedom to practice what is learned <strong>in</strong> lectures. The <strong>design</strong> <strong>studio</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

UAE architecture departments as well as schools <strong>of</strong> architecture is still<br />

practised <strong>in</strong> its traditional <strong>for</strong>m, with <strong>the</strong> aid <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latest technology used<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> isolation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>studio</strong> curriculum. The students <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UAE meet <strong>in</strong><br />

an open <strong>studio</strong> space that is not equipped with computers but is<br />

equipped with all <strong>the</strong> necessary tools <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>design</strong> practice. 234 The<br />

students have to refer to nearby computer labs <strong>for</strong> any computer-aided<br />

<strong>design</strong> that <strong>the</strong>y need to undertake. The computers are solely used as<br />

sketch<strong>in</strong>g devices and <strong>for</strong> data process<strong>in</strong>g purposes.<br />

234 Al-Ali, A. I. (2007). op.cit.p439-456.<br />

79

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