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International School of Architecture and Urban Development Policies No.3, September 2008 NewsLetter

• Exhibition with U_POLIS students’ best works. • Towards institutional consolidation. • U_POLIS, now member of CEEMAN Network.• U_POLIS visits Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. • Lectures held at U_POLIS Open Forum • Not just theory, but also practice!• Luca Zevi, Italian architect & critic, visits U_POLIS and Co-PLAN • U_POLIS in Balkan conference of Urban Planning Schools. • Social Life at U_POLIS! • “New Global Leader” for the year 2008. • U_POLIS Newsletter: The informative periodic newsletter is positively appreciated by the public opinion. NewsLetter of POLIS University Exhibition with U_POLIS students’ best works.

Exhibition with U_POLIS students’ best works. Part of this event was also the film premiere: In exchange of 5 apartments Premiere of the film: In change of 5 apartments and a store! and a store! Production of Benaki Museum Greece. The premiere was An exhibition of the best works done by students during this closing attended by one of the movie-makers Prof. Dimitris Philippides, architect academic year was open at U_POLIS settings. It is the second consecutive and professor at the Athens Technical State University, invited by U-POLIS. year that U_POLIS organises such event aiming to make it a tradition. This He also held a lecture at U_POLIS Open Forum regarding the status of year’s exhibition was organised under the auspices of the Minister of public space and city planing in Greece. Culture, Mr. Ylli Pango, and was attended by a record number of visitors.

Towards institutional consolidation.

U_POLIS constitutes its Senate, the Counicl of Professors, and the Ethics & Publishing Board. U_POLIS is a new growing institution, working seriously to consolidate itself as a Prof. Aleks Luarasi, Prof. Aleksander Xhuvani, Prof. Thoma Thomai, Prof. contemporary academic structure. Therefore, during the last academic year the Hamlet Bezhani, Prof. Vezir Muharremaj, Prof. Nasip Mecaj. Eventually University constituted the Senate, Professors’ Council and Ethics & Publishing U_POLis is working on the publication of the first number of its scientific Board. Part of this structure are well known specialists such as Prof. Artan Fuga, magazine on architecture and urban planning FORUM A + P.

U_POLIS, now member of CEEMAN Network.

Central and East European Development Association especially in the phase of the compilation and consolidation of the Master U_POLIS reconfirms once again its international recognition. After AESOP programs. Actually, CEEMAN has become an international reference network and UNESCO, U_POLIS is now member of the prestigious network for institutions interested in the quality and innovation. This CEEMAN, Central and East European Management Development network includes 170 institutional members from 42 countries in Europe, Association. Besides U-POLIS will also become the representative of North America, Latin America and Asia. CEEMAN in Albania. This membership is very useful to U_POLIS for the cultivation of a managerial approach and practice for its students,

U_POLIS visits Harvard Business School, Boston, USA and NTUA, National Technical University of Athens, Greece

U_POLIS visits Harvard Business School, Boston, USA research in these fields in both countries. Comparisons between the 2 countries’ and NTUA, National Technical University of Athens, Greece experiences and eventual collaboration opportunities were also discussed. The Rector of POLIS University, Dr. Besnik Aliaj was invited by the School of In line with this, 3 of the co-founders of U_POLIS, Mr. Gazmend Haxhia, Mr. Besnik Architecture, NTUA, National Technical University of Athens for a module of lessons, Aliaj and Mr. Dritan Shutina have been elected and invited by Harvard Business and to discuss collaboration opportunities among the two schools. During the lectures School, Boston Harvard, USA, to participate in the annual meeting on academic - open to public participation - as well as the meetings with vice-Rector Prof. Polyzos, institutions and free enterprise. These experiences have been not only useful to Prof. Mantouvalou and the expert Vatavali, it was discussed on the status of confront existing problems, but also to expose to new experiences at global level architectonical and urban developments, as well as teaching aspects and scientific and to professional network building.

Lectures held at U_POLIS Open Forum.

A communication infrastructure with the Society, Professionals and Media. Slovenia; 5. Dr. John Discroll, USA; 6. Arch. Maria Teresa Cuonzo Maurizio and Sotir Dhamo; 7. Prof. Atilla Yücel, Turkey, etc. The Open Forum is a tradition founded years ago by Co-PLAN and now retaken by U-POLIS. In these open to public events usually participate students, professors, Some of the topis covered during 2007-2008 are lectured by: 1. Ilaria Garofolo, professionals and friends of U-POLIS. The Forum is considered as a dais open to everyone, University of Trieste, Italy; 2. Herald Qyqja, University of Trieste, Italy; 3. Prof. Judy Diane where free speech and professional thought are spoken out loud. During 2006-2007, the Green, Technical University, Haifa-Izrael; 4. DU PONT- the American company and its Open Forum provided scientific confrontation not only to U_POLIS students and professors local distributor FREAB; 5. Mr. Edi Rama, ; 6. ARMSTRONG- the but also to experts, students from other universities and other interested subjects. American company for the production of constructing materials - Mr.Tomaz Zore; 7. Prof. Dr. Lufter Xhuveli, Minister of MMPAU; 8. Prof. Dr. Sasha Tsenkova, University of Some of the topics covered during 2006-2007 are lectured by: 1. Eric Goengrich, Germany; Calgary, Canada; 9. Mr. Genc Ruli, Minister of Economy; 10. 51N4E space producers; 2. Dr. Robin Coombes, Great Britain; 3. Dr. Lyn Arnold, Great Britain; 4. Prof. Danica Purg, 11. Prof. Dimitris Philippides, National Technical University, Athens, etc.

Not just theory, but also practice!

Students of U_POLIS participate field visits to touch urban realities! informal area, 5. ”Vista” residential area in Sauk, 6. industrial areas of "Kinostudio" During 2007-2008, U-POLIS staff was attentive that the students had a good and "" in Tirana, 7. historic sites in Berat, Apoloni, Gjirokastër, Mesopotam, balance between theory and practice. Therefore during the practice hours, during Butrint and Saranda, 8. shopping malls in Tirana and Durres, 9. "Brigades’ Palace", workshops, and in the context of Open Forum are organised a number of field visits etc. These visits are also combined with meetings of experts, professionals and such as: 1. the new 24-floor business center next to football stadium. 2. the new institution leaders, to create a clearer idea on the concerns and realities out of the Tirana airport, 3. the railway station area, 4. Kamza Municipality and Bathore academic setting.

Luca Zevi, Italian architect & critic, visits U_POLIS and Co-PLAN

Meeting with Representatives from School of Architecture, publications of the university and its research institute. Finally the architect Oxford Brookes University, UK complimented both institutions for the work done so far and expressed his will for collaboration. During the national conference on architecture & urban issues in Albania and Italy, organized by the Italian Embassy, spring 2008, among others the well-known In line with such visits, its worth mentioning the meeting with the representatives Italian architect and critic, Mr. Luca Zevi, expressed its interest to visit U_POLIS. of the School of architecture at Oxford Brookes University, UK. They were in He had a friendly meeting with the representatives of the university and Co-PLAN Albania for an art & architecture exhibition organized in collaboration with regarding the academic curricula and urban developments of Tirana. Luca Zevi Gallery of Arts, Tirana. During the upcoming academic year, U-Polis intents to showed interest for the academic program, research, consultancy and extend further such coperation.

U_POLIS in Balkan conference of Urban Planning Schools. U_POLIS in Balkan conference of Urban Planning Schools the fragile environment in this region. Albania was represented in this A group of experts of U_POLIS and Co-PLAN participated in the regional meeting with 2 presentations by U_POLIS (Dr. Besnik Aliaj and MPA Sotir meeting of Urban Planning Schools in the Balkan region, held in Ohrid, Dhamo) and one by Co-PLAN (Enton Derraj). The participants appreciated Macedonia in June 2008. The meeting sponsored by the Austrian the courageous practical and academic experiences of U_POLIS and Government, aimed to stimulate the recognition of and support for these Co-PLAN, which led to a debate on how the profession of urban planner in schools in Balkans, as an opportunity to invest in capacities that will manage market economy should be taught and applied.

Social Life at U_POLIS!

Social Life at U_POLIS! Being a new institution, during 2007-2008 U_POLIS students and staff have this sports event by 2 teams: Architecture and Planning, facing “Vojo Kushi” done considerable attempts to reach the highest academic and scientific results. Institute, Economics Faculty and “Marin Barleti” University. During this year, But in order for this to be sustainable, it needs consistency and positive team U_POLIS students also organized 2 parties with the partner university work. That’s why besides the intensive work, we take care to balance the LUARASI, not mentioning here Friday social meetings and improvised birthday energies in a positive social atmosphere. In this context, U_POLIS students were parties. The social life was enriched with trips to Saranda, Montenegro, etc. encouraged to participate in AMC Football Cup. U_POLIS was represented in

“New Global Leader” for the year 2008.

One of the leaders of U-POLIS Mr. Gazmend Haxhia, receives the price “New the WEF in a form of recognition and gratitude for the young best leaders Global Leader” for the year 2008, from the World Economic Forum in Davos. from all the world for their professional achievements, determination towards society, and as potentials to contribute for the formation of the The co-founder of U-POLIS, MR, Gazmend Haxhia, is next to 245 executive future in the world. The new global leaders for 2008 include 121 leaders of leaders, political and intellectual personalities, who are 40 years old or business and also leaders of the government, academic sector, media and younger, chosen by all over the world, in Geneva Switzerland, on 11 March all the society from 65 countries. 2008, by the World Economic Forum (WEF). These title is given every year by r

U_POLIS Newsletter: The informative periodic newsletter is positively appreciated by the public opinion. Thank you Colleagues, a very nice beginning for the U-Polis newsletter! Best regards! Thanks really for inviting us to read the NewsLetter. Sincerely, Prof. Judy Green, Head of Landscape Architecture, Technion University, Israel. John Auckland, USA.

Thank you for the Newsletter. Very impressive! Dear colleagues thank you for the newsletter. Very interesting. Very good. With respect Luan Deda, Urban Planer, London. Binak Beqaj, Architect Kosova. Best wishes to the newest informative newspaper. You are very innovative and serious Compliments for everything POLIS! You are really good…… contributors for the Albanian education specially in the fields where you operate - Maurizio Di Fronzo, Polytechnic of Bari, Italy. architecture and urban planning. Congratulations. Valentina Leskaj, Member of Parliament, Socialist Party, Albania Dear POLIS friends, the newsletter is remarkable. Chapeau! Raphael Faust, Honorary Consul of Albania in Israel. Dear representatives of POLIS University. Congratulations for the newspaper. It has a layout and content of Western standards. My compliments for all your staff for this first edition of U_POLIS Newsletter. Dhurata Bozo, Agency for Accreditations of High Education, Tirana The activities look very prestigious. Best regards. Arben Bakllamaja, The World Bank, Washington USA You are really avangard with such trasparency... I would sincerely like to congratulate you for the first edition. Congratulations! The web site and the brochure are very qualitative. Doris Andoni, Ministry of Public Works, Tirana Stefan Kochi, Honorary Consul of Albania in Boston, USA. Greetings and lots of success for the newspaper. I wish you best regards and good luck. It is a great pleasure for us, your friends from the other side of the Mediterranean, to Nevila Sokoli, Tirana share this event of having the first Newsletters of your University. I know you well Congratulations! As usually you are very good. Good luck. Cordially, enough to know that this is the "bird" which heralds the Spring. We wish you Valdet Sala, Tirana successful coming years. Roni Givoni, Israel Congratulations for the informative newspaper of POLIS University, it was very beautiful. Petrit Cela, British Link, Managing Director, Tirana The informative newspaper U_POLIS Newslette