International Cooperation in Sustainable Emergency Architecture

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

In a nutshell

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona (UIC) is a private university that was established in 1997. With a population of just over 3,000 students and 330 professors, the university achieves an excellent lecturer/student ratio. The international approach adopted at UIC is fundamental to its success as 12% of students come from overseas.

Since the creation of UIC, its School of Architecture is shaping instruction towards innovative professional practice with the main priority of providing architects with international training. The programme gives students a solid working knowledge of new technologies and encourages them to be critical thinkers who are enterprising and capable of meeting the future demands of the market.

UIC offers the Master of International Cooperation: Sustainable Emergency Architecture, which is a unique degree that prepares architects to develop and rebuild communities affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. This course may be opted for the second year of the Mundus Urbano Programme.

This UIC master’s programme aims to establish strategies and criteria for taking action in the areas of urban planning, neighborhood development and implementing architectural projects while bearing in mind energy efficient systems and sustainability criteria in all areas related to materiality and local cultures. Furthermore, the programme will train experts to provide solutions to large-scale problems generated by massive and sudden change. Ultimately professionals will use their training to study and conduct research on materials, city planning, economics, and environmental and social issues- all based on the principles of sustainability.

More information is available on the official website and blog of the programme.

Curriculum / 60 ETCS

Module 1 – Emergency Shelter and Settlements* / 12 ECTS
Introduction to Emergency and Urban Development
Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements
Low-Tec and Community Architecture

Module 2 – Urban Development And Community Design / 6 ECTS
Urban Development and Community Design
Bottom-Up Strategies for Urban regeneration
City Resilience and Urban Resistance

Module 3 – Socio-Spatial Strategies / 12 ECTS
Housing, Movements, Gender and Development
Planning and Participation
Environmental Justice and Political Ecology
Socio-spatial Workshop for Integrated Urban Upgrading

Module 4 – International Field Trip and Internship** / 15 ECTS

Module 5 – Master ’s Thesis / 15 ECTS

*Certified by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
**Travel and lodging included in the cost of tuition

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Carrer de la Immaculada 22
08017 Barcelona, Spain

Contact person

Allison Koornneef

Coordinator

Phone: +34 932 54 18 00