Teaching "Architecture and Energy" in Iran: opportunities and challenges

Author
Fatemeh Akrami
Doctoral student in Architecture, School of Art and Architecture, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.
Abstract
Architecture is one of the few disciplines that covers a wide range of fields.  Accordingly, a comprehensive program should be developed for university education in this field so that it can meet its needs well.  In recent years, with the advancement of architecture education and its development to graduate studies, the issue of teaching in its supporting areas has been raised. Therefore, in some universities, separate fields, including "architecture and energy", have been established. Although the teaching of this field has been due to the needs that have arisen globally, its implementation in Iran has not been without harm.  In the present study, an attempt was made to analyze the content of the graduate study program in the field of architecture and energy and explain its opportunities and challenges in the current situation in Iran. This could pave the way for future planning. Accordingly, using the mixed method, the nature and content of the curriculum in this field were studied and compared. Then, relying on semi-constructed interviews to understand the experience gained by the experts in reality, the existing challenges and opportunities were criticized. According to the initial educational goals in establishing this field, it is inferred that the graduate student of this field, as an assistant architect, is skilled in achieving the goals of environmental productivity and energy. However, the evaluation of the opinions of its graduates showed that this goal has not been achieved. Based on research findings, it seems that proper education in the field of architecture and energy is not possible with conventional linear and analytical methods. Therefore, achieving the basic goals of this field is provided only when the field and its teaching tools are completed.
 

Keywords

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  • Receive Date 06 March 2023
  • Publish Date 06 March 2023