IN-PERSON Prague Research & Teaching Conference
Abstract
Recent publications by leading institutions on the education of architects have emphasized that educators must prepare architects to formulate new solutions for both current and future challenges. The primary objective of higher education in architecture is to foster a research-oriented mindset among students. It is believed that, in this way, future architects will be able to establish fundamental principles, conduct critical analyses, undertake extensive research, and independently propose syntheses. In undergraduate architecture education, the necessity of incorporating approaches that cultivate research awareness and propensity in students is also being discussed within broader higher education strategies. Numerous studies have focused on strategies to strengthen this synergy. Research suggests that student attitudes, academic conceptualizations, research incentives, and institutional culture are crucial. Considering the research-teaching link is largely affected by institutional factors, this study aims to review how this connection is considered in architecture undergraduate programs through open source documents of research universities in Turkey. The Higher Education Institution of Turkey (YÖK) monitors research performance through thirty-two factors and defines twenty-three universities as Research Universities, fourteen of which have architectural undergraduate programs. This document review will first discuss YÖK’s goals, strategies, and policies. Secondly, it will examine the vision and mission of the university/faculty/department, research activities and student involvement, and course syllabuses in the curriculum. This study is part of a comprehensive doctoral research aiming to reveal how the research-teaching link is established in architecture undergraduate programs at research universities in Turkey.
Born in 1981, Özge Can Balaban obtained her undergraduate degree in Architecture from Istanbul Technical University in 2005. After a decade of professional engagement as an architect and project manager within numerous architectural design offices and at various construction sites, she returned to her alma mater to pursue a Master of Science in ‘Traditional Utopianism and Architecture’. She is presently advancing her doctoral research at the same institution. Concurrently, Ms. Balaban is lecturing at the Architectural Department of Gebze Technical University.
Yüksel Demir – Graduated from Istanbul Technical University (ITU). Served as the head of Fine Arts Department, head of Architecture Department at ITU, and dean at TAQU Faculty of Architecture in Uzbekistan. Was a visiting professor at Politecnico Di Milano, and Auburn University. Founded the ITU Mardin Interdisciplinary Research and Application Center (MardINT > MedINT), of which he is still the director. Worked for the transformation of ITU into a research university (2014-20). Coordinated the Turkey Antarctic Research Station Working Group (2018-20) at ITU Polar Research Center (PolRec). He is a founding board member of The Circle platform. Won several competitions and awards. He continues to work in the fields of Architectural Design, Informatics in Architectural Design, Systematic Design, Architecture & Nature & Culture relations at ITU Department of Architecture.
11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Wednesday 11th June, 2025