Description
Currently though the Romanian employment market for architects is very poor, with almost no construction going on. Hence students of architecture find it in Romania very hard to gain the necessary work practice in order to become recognized architects after their graduation. The project will give 4 talented architect’s students a 6 month work placement each at the Norwegian architect’s office Moderno AS. The expected outcome is that the students get hands-on experience from all ongoing tasks in a Norwegian architect’s office, and hence give the students a set of skills and knowledge (including Norwegian language skills) which will greatly improve their chances to find employment after graduation. The Norwegian partner, Moderno AS, will involve the students in all ongoing tasks in their office, including architectural design, computer drawing, technical detailing, selected construction site visits, selected client meetings, and organization of related activities such as architectural study tours. Further, the company will finance an introductory Norwegian language course, and will invite the students to select Norwegian social events. In a long term perspective, it is possible that the students after their graduation will use this experience to set up new businesses benefiting Norwegian-Romanian relations, initiating new Norwegian-Romanian cultural or educational projects, using their new knowledge from the Norwegian construction industry to introduce new ideas and methodologies in Romania (for instance related to energy-efficient construction), or otherwise directly or indirectly let their surroundings benefit from their Norwegian exchange experience.
Summary of project results
Internationalisation is one of the priorities of Politehnica University of Timisoara (UPT). Establishing connections with institutions having similar study programmes and interests, offering students and staff the possibility to discover new ways of learning and working and increasing the number of incoming teaching staff members are among UPT top goals. The cooperation with the host institutions will continue. Four degree projects were realised following this project: two in the field of geodesy and two in the field of architecture. There was also one staff training mobility. Following the project 2 bachelor thesis and 2 diploma projects were elaborated by our students under the supervision of professionals from both sides. The staff exchanges were a source of changes in the curriculum of geodesy students and an inspiration for the beneficiaries and their department. The lectures of the incoming researcher gave master and PhD students an international experience at home, an insight on teaching methods used abroad, and improved skills on working with topography data.
Summary of bilateral results
Establishing connections with institutions having similar study programmes and interests, offering students and staff the possibility to discover new ways of learning and working and increasing the number of incoming teaching staff members are among UPT top goals. The cooperation with the host institutions will continue. After cooperating for one year all partners have a better understanding of each other. The people involved are looking into ways to enhance and further develop these connections, as well as to extend the network. Four degree projects were realised following this project: two in the field of geodesy and two in the field of architecture. There was also one staff training mobility.