Abstract

This project addresses existing gaps in the South-Mediterranean countries regarding architectural education and profession, between academia and practice, between social and technical knowledge and between professionals and local stakeholders. It aims at building and nurturing key green competences (knowledge, behaviors attitudes and skills) required to qualify students and teachers to address the urgent challenges of sustainable urban development in their societies and beyond. A special focus will be put on an integrated understanding of environmental issues that bridges social and ecological aspects on a basis of recognizing their complex and dynamic interdependencies. To achieve this aim, the project employs a synthesized Joint Lab approach that links different disciplines, actors and contexts. Accordingly, it will establish a non-hierarchic network of academic urban labs that connects 8 HEIs in Europe and the South-Mediterranean region as well as a number of local associated partners. These joint labs shall act as hubs for continuing innovation and capacity building in curriculum development based on mutual interests and local needs. During the lifetime of the project, the development of a new Master programme at the University of Petra will be supported as well as developing new practice-oriented modules for professional training in another 4 universities in Egypt and Jordan. The network of labs will sustain a platform for integrating the aspired competences into teaching, research in the South-Mediterranean region. It will also support European HEIs in facing the global challenges brought about by climate change through an intensification of international mobility, exchange and cooperation with South Mediterranean countries.