Event Review: Architecture Student's Forum 2011

I had the a blast last Wednesday participating with my fellow mates at the first ever Architecture Student’s Forum held at Tan Yan Kee Auditorium and Beato Angelico AVR of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas. With the goal of stimulating active participation in the revision of the current BS Architecture Course Program, participating universities who responded to the invitation include student delegates from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manuel L Quezon University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, College of Saint Benilde, Far Eastern University and the University of Santo Tomas.

Senior year student delegates from our college
(ako yung papansing naka-'peace' sign sa likuran. hehe.)

Panel of Reactants: Arch. Fernandez and Arch. Alarcon

Cluster Presentation of resolutions @ Beato Angelico AVR

The first plenary address entitled “Architecture Education: Its Current and Future State” given by Arch. John Joseph Fernandez, current Dean of UST College of Architecture, President of the Council of Deans and Heads of Architecture Schools in the Philippines (CODHASP) and the Executive Director of the Commission on Education of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), was thorough in painting a picture of the current situation of our five-year ladderized curriculum based on CHED Memorandum Order 61 (CMO61) or the Policies and Standards for Bachelor of Science in Architecture Program. A hitch regarding the number of schooling years surfaced, the need for more hours in the architectural subjects to be taken, the seeming redundancy of GenEd subjects included in the course program, the superficiality of lessons being taught in Building Utilities and Building Technology subjects, and issues regarding the two-years worth of diversified experience to be taken as an undergraduate vs. Post-graduate.

The participating body was divided into four clusters that will discuss, assess and review the current curriculum as implemented in their respective colleges. They then formulated resolutions and presented these in the Panel of Reactants composed of Arch. John Joseph Fernandez and Arch. Norma Alarcon. After an open discussion, the cluster leaders together with the panel of reactants drafted the final resolution to be proposed to the higher body concerned.

An eye-opener in the sense that I would have never known such issues regarding the academe, the event was a success in making students aware, in lending an ear to our take on the matter, and in fostering camaraderie between architectural colleges represented by the delegates.

I certainly would love to participate more in these kinds of events. I’ve made acquaintances and probably have met my future colleagues in the industry :)