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UNIVERSITY International School of Architecture and Urban No.6, July 2009 Development Policies NewsLetter

• POLIS University gets full Accreditation! • EXPO_POLIS 2009. • Albanian Government’s and UNDP program “Brain Gain” supports U_POLIS. • Roundtable and lecture by the Ambassador FRANK WISNER • U_POLIS at TIRANA’s BIENNIAL 2009 • OPEN FORUM & CINE_POLIS • Professional tours and social life at U_POLIS • U_POLIS staff contributes in other institutions • Visits and Exchange: NewsLetter• Roundtable on regional administration / Council of ethics & editorial board of U_polisof • INTERNATIONAL POLIS WORKSHOPS at U_POLIS University POLIS University gets full Accreditation!

During Spring 2009, POLIS University was subject of the accreditation process, by APAAL the National Accreditation Council in its meeting on June 26th, approved the GVJ-APAAL - the Public Agency for the Accreditation of Higher Education in Albania (member of ENCA Assessment Report and recommended to the Minister of Education and Science to officially sign - European Association of National Accreditation Agencies). APAAL established the the accreditation of POLIS University, both in institutional and program related aspects. The External Assessment Group (GVJ) with independent experts to first examine U_POLIS Minister, Mr. Fatos Beja, with the decision Nr.227, dated 22.07.2009, DECIDED the FULL legal documentation and Internal Assessment Report, than physically checked the ACCREDITATION OF POLIS UNIVERSITY. This is a milestone that completes the official recognition functioning of the institution and its own study programs in both faculties, Architecture and of our University, after the international recognition and the membership at European Association of Urban Planning. During this process, POLIS University was also visited by partner Architectural Education (EAAE), Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) and agencies from Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Heads of Accreditation Agencies and International Association of Universities (IAU)- UNESCO. We share such achievement with the Heads of National Accreditation Council respectively. At the end of the evaluation process students, parents, staff and all those who trusted in and cooperated with POLIS University.

EXPO_POLIS 2009

Following the annual tradition, this year as well, POLIS University organized On this occasion, Co-PLAN introduced the digital library of local governance EXPO_POLIS 2009 exhibition with some of the best works done by the students, “LOGIN Platform”, which is a regional initiative supported by OSI Budapest. staff and researchers, including works of Co-PLAN Institute and Metro_POLIS Studio. The second session was focused on students’ products, the role of qualitative The event, which is hold at the end of each academic year, this time, was conceived education in the field of urban development, including the quality in education as well in two sessions. The first was focused on Good Urban Governance issues and was as research. In this session attended personalities from the Ministry of Education and moderated by Co-PLAN. It hosted a great number of participants from Ministry of Science, other public and private institutions, experts of the related fields, lecturers, Interior; Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Ministry of Public Works; members of the students, parents, etc. Obviously the climax of EXPO_POLIS is the visit of exhibition Associations of Regions, Municipalities and Communes in Albania, Kosova, etc. with the works done by the students and staff!

Albanian Government’s and UNDP program “Brain Gain” supports U_POLIS

“Brain Gain” Program sustained U_POLIS application to bring back to Tirana “Scottbrownrigg” London UK. three successful Albanian professionals that live, work or study abroad, namely: - Dorina Pojani - Master at Cincinnati School of Planning, Ohio University, - Ermal Shpuza - Master at Bartlett School of Design, UCL University College SHBA; at present researcher and PhD student at Polytechnic University of London; PhD at Georgia Tech University; at present engaged as lecturer and Tirana and Berkeley University, California, USA. researcher at Southern Polytechnic State University, and Emory University The three lecturers are already part of the academic process at U_POLIS as well Atlanta, Georgia, USA. as advice and consulting. - Luan Deda - Master at Bartlett School of Design, UCL University College London, currently employed as urban designer by consultancy firm

Roundtable and lecture by the Ambassador FRANK WISNER

POLIS University and its own partners Platforma-IDR, Institute for Democracy his agenda was the lecture hold at the roundtable organized by U_POLIS on and Reforms and “Hanns Seidel” Foundation organized a roundtable with the American Government’s policies in the Balkans and especially on the future of special envoy of USA at the troika for Kosovo – Ambassador Frank Wisner, at the new and independent state of Kosova. Then, for about an hour the Sheraton Hotel on 15 April 2009. Mr. Wisner is an eminent personality of the Washington’s ex-representative during the negotiations on Kosova, answered the American and global politics and diplomacy. He was invited in Albania by the questions of the media, analysts and participants, highly interested in the case. highest authorities in the country, having a number of official meetings. Part of

U_POLIS at TIRANA’s BIENNIAL 2009

This year U_POLIS established contacts and negotiations with the organizers of organize one of the three events of the Biennial focused on new architectonical Tirana’s Biennial 2009 aiming to include architecture and urban design in this developments in Tirana and the Balkans. U_POLIS and Co-PLAN already confirmed exhibition of art performances. The organizer Edi Muka and the curators from the support for the first architectural exhibition in the Biennial, including participation “STEALTH” Architecture Studio, Holland, agreed to collaborate with U_POLIS to of students and staff in the organization and implementation of such event.

OPEN FORUM & CINE_POLIS

The Open Forum & Cine_POLIS tradition continued with the following activities: Pegah Zaman and Ermal Shpuza – PhD lecturers at Georgia University, Kathleen Rogers – noted American environmental activist, invited by Public Relations Office USA, discoursed on space syntax, and “architects versus curators” on at the American Embassy, Tirana, held a lecture regarding the experience of Earth Day how to arrange museums and art galleries. Network, USA. Thoma Papa – recent masters–laureate in UK, presented the “public Alex Wall – PhD, Professor at Karlsruhe University, Germany held a presentation on the award” winning project in the international competition on the urban projects (urban landscape), research (European Cities burst) and publications (on urban re-formulation of Durres city center. neighborhoods in Hyderabad, India, and shopping malls history), followed by a presentation Peter Nientied – PhD, Dutch lecturer, gave a lecture on Creative Cities in of Dritan Shutina on Co-PLAN’s planning experience. Europe. Kenneth Baar and Dorina Pojani – lecturers and researchers at Berkeley University, California Cine_POLIS - showed 5 films: “10,000 BC”, “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Whale held 2 presentations on real estate crisis in USA and urban public transportation issues. Rider”, “Buena Vista Social Club” and “Valkyrie”.

Professional tours and social life at U_POLIS

During the second term U_POLIS kept organizing projects and academic activities Professional tour “Via Adriatica” in Croatia and Montenegro in May, including visits closely related to the field. In this context, are to be mention: in historic centers of the cities of Split, Caftat, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Budva, Tivar, Ulqin. Study-trip to Kukes and North-East Albania in April, part of the program of Urban Together with such intensive work, the social life in U_POLIS has been enriched by Design course. the Friday’s social evenings; parties organized by the Students Council; as well as promotion activities for talented students as in the case of “Wrong Dinner” Study-trip to Vlora in April, part of the program of Architecture Theory and Studio installation, by the architecture student Olisa Foto; or University’s football course. championship, etc.

U_POLIS staff contributes in other institutions

Recently 2 of U_POLIS lecturers organized a special course for DND students, The same invitation came by the Faculty of Economics, . Geography Branch, Faculty of History and Geography, University of Tirana (in collaboration with Prof. Fatmir Mema and Prof. Sulo Haderi) (in collaboration with Prof. Perikli Qiriazi) The Rector of U_POLIS has been invited by the Albanian Regions Association Other lecturers of U_POLIS have been invited to participate to lecture in the School and the President of the Republic of Kosova to assist and advice in issues of of Politics organized by European Council (Shkodra, April 2009) interest for these institutions.

Visits and Exchange:

- U_POLIS Rector and Administrator attended the Heads of Schools Meeting, opportunities in capacity building regarding urban planning in Kosovo, especially organized by AESOP with European Planning Schools, in Lille, France, April 2009. through postgraduate master programs. They had the opportunity to introduce the university in front of an audience of 100 - Prof. Gary McLean, Texas A&M University representative paid a visit to U_POLIS schools and to officially call the organization of this conference in Tirana in 2011. in May 2009, becoming acquainted with the work done so far, and discussed with - Meantime U_POLIS received a visit from UN-Habitat Kosova representatives: the heads of the university the possibility to draw joint post-graduate (master) Krystyna Galezia and Arieta Himaduna. Both parties explored potential cooperation study programs.

Roundtable on regional administration / Council of ethics & editorial board of U_polis

ROUNDTABLE ON REGIONAL ADMINISTRATION Arben Bakllamaja, Floreta Luli, Arben Shtylla (staff), Sotir Dhamo (General U_POLIS and partners: IDR Platform, “Hanns Seidel” Foundation and Albanian Administrator), Gezim Qendo (Ethics Expert). Editorial Board: Prof. Vezir Regions Association organized during March - May 2009, 12 regional tables Muharremaj, Prof. Nasip Mecaj, Dr. Peter Nientied, Dr. Vera Bushati, Dr. Besnik regarding regional development and regional division and administration in Albania. Aliaj, Dr. Arben Shtylla, Dr. Gezim Qendro, Prof. Thoma Thomai, Prof. Hamet Bezhani, Doris Andoni, Sotir Dhamo, Dritan Shutina, Rudina Toto, Artan Raca, COUNCIL OF ETHICS & EDITORIAL BOARD of U_POLIS Krist Andoni. During April, U_POLIS constituted the Council of Ethics and Editorial Board that will Soon U_POLIS will also constitute the Advisory Board that will buffer between advice University on principle and ethical issues, and publications, respectively. The the boards of founders and daily administrators of the school. members of these bodies are: Council of Ethics: Prof. Thoma Thomai (Chairman), r

INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS at U_POLIS - Workshop on Landscape Architecture - Judy Green, American academic of - Tirana-Karlsruhe workshop – During the second term U_POLIS and U-Karlsruhe, architecture and landscape design that has been living in Israel for 30 years and Germany, organized a joint workshop on architectonical-urban design with Architecture works in Haifa University and University of Jerusalem, organized an intensive 3 week students and lecturers from both schools. The course was lead by Prof. Alex Wall in workshop on landscape architecture with Architecture (3rd year) and Planning (2nd collaboration with 4 other German and Albanian lecturers. The project included the year) students. The site subject of study was the eastern segment of Lana River with analysis of 2 sites in Tirana: Tirana River and “1 May” block. After a week of team work, ex-tractor combine surroundings and “” neighborhood. The works are part of students introduced the preliminary concepts in U_POLIS. Then the students kept Expo_POLIS. working by online lessons. At the end of the semester, Albanian students and lecturers - Workshop on Housing - John Driscoll, head of IIUD Institute and lecturer and also, visited Karlsruhe and worked for a week, finalizing the workshop by introducing researcher at Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, USA; and Doris Andoni, and defended the final projects. These visits served to exchange practical and head of Housing department at MPPTT; together organized an intensive 2-week academic experiences with mutual benefits. Both schools organized lessons, forums workshop with students of the Faculty of Urban Planning and Management on and tours in Tirana and Karlsruhe respectively. housing and urban renewal issues. The study was focused on the sites of the old - Stockholm-Tirana Workshop – After the invitation of the Museum of Architecture in airport area and ex- textile combine in Tirana. The workshop included field visits as Stockholm, Sweden, U_POLIS Rector and IKSH_POLIS Director attended the well as visits in local/public institutions, the concepts of efficient urban interventions “Seminar on Balkanology” with a lesson on architecture and urban planning. Besides, and financing methods and the final open presentation. the heads of U_POLIS established contacts with the schools of architecture “KHT - Workshop on Urban Planning and Design – Kenneth Baar, PhD lecturer at Berkeley Architecture & the Built Environment” and “Kungsliga Konsthogskolan”. With the last University California, USA, and Dorina Pojani PhD Researcher, delivered a workshop ones, in 2 weeks time POLIS organized in Tirana, the seminar: “Albania: new on combined issues of design and urban legality at Selita area, Tirana, with the phenomena in architecture and urban developments”. U_POLIS staff held two students of the third year, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design. presentations on: Architectural heritage in Albania (Vera Bushati) and Co-PLAN’s planning experience (Dritan Shutina). The Swedish staff introduced a project on the - Workshop on Territorial Planning in EU - Prof. Raffaello Cecchetti, PhD, professor at requalification of Gjirokastra’s historic center and the rehabilitation of some traditional University of Pisa, and Prof. Riccardo Scarpa, PhD, “La Sapienza” University Rome towers considered as cultural monuments, supported by CHwB and SIDA. Italy, organized an intensive workshop on the right of public works, regarding territorial planning in EU. The course was attended by 1st year students, Faculty of Urban - Workshop on environmental design – Ermal Shpuza, PhD, lecturer and researcher at Planning and Management. Southern Polytechnic State University and Emory University Atlanta, Georgia, USA; organized a intensive 2 week workshop on the environmental design of a site in - Workshop on Architectural Survey - Prof. Roberto Castiglia, PhD, University of Pisa Tirana’s “Block” area, with the students of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban design Italy, and 3 lecturers of U_POLIS organized a 2-week intensive workshop on (3rd year). Their projects show a high sensibility towards energetic crisis and global Architectonic Survey part of Architectural design Course with students of the first warming. year, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design. The informative newspaper U_POLIS Newslette