vision and strategy 2017

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Table of Contents

1. Preface 06

2. Objectives for the period 2010-17 10

3. Vision 2017 123.1 CultivatingDifference 143.2 FabricatingSpace 163.3 CreatingCorrelations 17

4. Strategic Objectives and Focus Areas 184.1 Research 204.2 Education 224.3 Dissemination 264.4 Personnel 284.5 Management 304.6 FinancialFramework 344.7 Facilities 36

1.Preface

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TheRoyalDanishAcademyofFineArtsSchoolofArchitecture’s(RASA)Plan2017isastrategyforthefoundationsanddevelopmentofthearchitecturalprogrammeintheperiod2010-2017.

TheRASAPlan2017wasapprovedbytheSchoolCouncilon22September2010.ThestrategyworkhasstretchedfromJanuary2009toNovember2010intheformofawideinternaldebatethroughouttheSchoolandtheinvolvementofanumberofexternalstakeholders.Theprocesshasservedtotakebearingsofthearchitecturalprofession’scomingpositioninnationalandglobaldevelopmentandthechangesthatwillattractparticularattentionandthusrequireactiveinitiativesincomingyears.

ItistheSchool’smissiontocreatethebasisforhighqualityinpeople’sphysicalsurroundingsthroughitseducationalprogrammesandarchitecturalresearch.Thisisachievedthroughresearch,researchereducation,researchandpractice-basededucationandtheexchangeofknowledgewithoursurroundings,allatthehighestinternationallevel.

TheSchoolseesitselfasamodernacademyoffinearts,whichbasesitsworkonstrongtraditionstocontinuallyrenewandrefinethemethodsthatmakeitsgraduatesuniqueintheinternationallabourmarket.

Preface

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KAVisionogStrategi2017

Theproblem-basedprojectworkformatthedrawingtableensurestheSchool’scloseinteractionbetweenresearchandpractice.ThisbringstheSchoolandthesurroundingsocietyclosertogetherandtrainsthestudentsininnovativesolution-orientatedbehaviour.

RASAisoneoftheworld’sabsoluteleadersamongschoolsofarchitectureinthefieldofproblem-basedprojectwork.Theartisticapproachthathasitsoriginatthedrawingtablecombinedwithinterdisciplinaryresearch-basedteachingisoneoftheSchool’sstrengthsandspecialcharacteristics.

TheinnovativeapproachistoguaranteetheSchoolaprominentplaceasaknowledge-creatinginstitutionthatcontributestotechnological,social,aesthetic,sustainableandculturalinnovationinsociety.Thus,amainobjectiveoftheSchoolofArchitecture’sstrategyistocreatevalueforsociety.

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TheSchoolhasanobligationtoensuregreatacademicdiversityinarchitecturalresearchandinthearchitecturaldegreeprogramme,butitalsowishestoidentifyclearstrategicfocusareas.Futurestudentsmustbeensuredmorespecialisationoptionsandprocess-orientatedcompetencesdirectedatsociety’sneeds,whichwillalsoimproveourgraduates’possibilitiesinthelabourmarket.

Thestrategy’sambitionistoexploittheinternalandexternalsynergythroughincreasedcollaborationthatwillopenupboththroughthemergerwithTheDanishDesignSchoolandinrelationtootherartisticandresearch-basedinstitutionsandcommercialbusinessesnationallyandglobally.

Theplancomprises:•Anoverallobjective2010-2017•Avision2017•Anoverviewofstrategicgoalsandfocusareasintheperiod

RectorSvenFeldingDecember12th2010

Preface

2.Objectivesfortheperiod2010-17

Throughitsresearchandeducationalprogrammesinarchitecturalplanning,buildingartanddesign,RASAistocreatethebasisforhighqualityinpeople’sphysicalsurroundings.

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•TheSchoolistoparticipateinacriticaldialoguewiththesurroundingsocietyandbeastrongandvisibleplayerinthearchitecturaldebate.

•TheSchoolistoensureaninternationalfocusinordertocontributetothesolutionofglobalchallengesthrougharchitecture.

•TheSchoolistobeabletocaptureemergingacademiccompetencesanddevelopnewfieldsofknowledge.

•TheSchoolistostrengthenbasicresearchinfabricationandthematerials-based.

•TheSchoolistostrengthenresearch-basedteachingbybuildingintegratedresearchandteachingenvironments.

•TheSchoolistoincreasethenumberofresearchersinteachingtostrengthentheknowledgecontent.

•TheSchoolistoworksystematicallyandstrategicallyonthedevelopmentofprofessionalandpersonalcompetencesintheindividualemployee.

Objectives for the period 2010-2017

3.Vision2017

RASA’sVision2017isbasedonthreethemes:‘cultivatingdifference’,‘fabricatingspace’and‘creatingcorrelations’.Thethreethemeshavemultipleobjects:Firstly,theycharacterisethecoreofthearchitect’spractice;secondly,theyexpressthedesireforadynamic,academicculture,andthirdlytheyillustratetheSchool’sinteractionwiththesurroundingworld.

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DanisharchitectureandteachingattheSchoolhavebeencarriedbyinsightintoandappreciationofcontext,materialsandtechniques.Therefore,theSchoolhastraditionallybeenabletocontributedirectlytocreatingarchitectureanddesignthatjoinedtogetherthepersonallyartisticandasociallyawaremindsetbymeansofcurrentmaterialsandtechniques.

Inrecentdecades,however,thearchitecturalprofessionhasmovedfromanalogueprocessesandcraftsmanshippracticetowardsadigitalisedconstructionprocessandindustrialproduction.Today,architectureiscreatedfromknowledge,ideasandcomponentsfromnearandfar.Theseconditionsmeanthatwenowworkinanewanddifferentlycomposedreality–arealitywhereitisdifficulttoseparatewhatislocalfromwhatisglobal.

Atthesametime,globalissuessuchasresourcescarcity,ecology,demographicchallengesandinequalityatvariouslevelsdemandincreasedattentionfromthearchitectasregardsthejointresponsibilityforpeople,societyandenvironment.Theseconditionsplacedemandsonthearchitectasregardsincreasedspecialisation.Asaresult,thereisarisingneedforsharpeningtheinnerdifferencesoftheprofessionandtheeducationalprogramme.Inotherwords,thereshouldbedifferentwaysoftrainingasanarchitectwithintheframeworkofoneeducationalprogramme.

Vision 2017

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3.1CultivatingDifferenceKAVisionogStrategi2017

Cultivating differenceexpressesadesireforaschoolthatshouldfirststrengthenprofessionalcompetencesandworktoincreasethequalityofresearch,teachingandstudyprojectsalike.Inotherwords,itisnotmerelydiversityforthesakeofdiversity,butratherademandforasharpeningofartistic,theoreticalandexperimentalwork.

Cultivatingdifferencethusexpressesthevisionaboutthenecessary,internaldialoguebetweentheacademicdiversitythattheSchoolencompassesandshoulddevelopinfuture.ItalsoexpressesthedesirethatalloftheSchool’scompetencesshouldopenupincriticaldialoguewiththesurroundingsocietysothattheresearchandeducation-relatedfocuscanbechallengedanddevelopedintothemeasureofvariation,abundanceandextentthatisnecessaryforthecreationofarchitecturalvalue.

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3.2FabricatingSpaceKAVisionogStrategi2017

Fabricating spaceexpressesthedesirethatfabricationbeplacedatthecentreoftheSchool’sresearchandteachingactivities.Fabricationshouldbeunderstoodinitsfullextent:thedevelopmentandrealisationofideas,concepts,theories,drawings,models,objects,mock-ups,spaces,exhibitionsetc.

Fabricationalsoexpressesthespanbetweencraftsmanshipandindustry,betweentheresourcesoftraditionandthechangeprocessesthatthetechnologicaldevelopmentmakespossibleandinitiates.Inthisconnection,ithasbecomecrucialtothearchitecttobeabletolinktheplaceandthecrafttotheplacelessindustrialproduction,andtobeabletodeveloparchitecturalideasbasedonnewknowledgeaboutarchitecture’screationprocessesandmaterials.

TheobjectiveisthatteachingatRASA,withconcreteproposalsinmind,shouldtakeitsstartingpointinmanydifferentcoursesthatareorganisedacrossthefieldoffabrication.FabricationshouldbeacentralsourceofarchitecturalexperienceformationattheSchoolcommunicatedthroughvariedteachingformsandcourses.

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Creating correlationsisthevision’sthirdtheme:First,itisaquestionofinnovativeconsiderationofhowtheSchoolcanbesteducatearchitectstothink,drawandbuildincontexts.Second,itpointstoastrengtheningoftheinternaldialogueacrossacademicdifferenceswherecriticalreflection,technicalinnovation,socialresponsibilityandartisticstrengthcanunfoldintoacommonreality.CreatingcorrelationsalsoconcernstheSchool’srelationshipswiththesurroundingworld.RelationshipsthataretobebuiltupinthecrossfieldbetweentheSchool’scompetencesandthecollaborationandcontrastofferedbytheprofession,otherresearchandteachingenvironmentsandtheworldatlarge.

TheSchoolistobeabletocaptureanddevelopemergingcompetencessothattheSchoolcanparticipateinnewrelationshipsandcreatethefoundationfornewcorrelationsbetweensizes,conditions,forces,meanings,peopleandtechnologies.TheSchoolexcelsbyshowingthisopennessoutwardlyandbyconcentratingeffortsinwardlyoncultivatingoriginality–notineveryinitiative,butwhereseveralsmalloriginalstatementsstarttoflowinthesamedirection.Bycreatinganinnerstructurethatcanfurtherandstimulatesuchinnermovements,theSchoolcanseriouslycontributetoindicatingdirectionsforarchitecture.

3.3CreatingCorrelationsVisionogStrategi2017

Vision 2017

4.StrategicObjectivesandFocusAreas

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4.1ResearchKAVisionogStrategi2017

TheSchool’sresearchistoensurethedevelopmentoftheprofessionbycapturingemergingcompetencesandensuringcontinuityandcontinualdevelopmentoftheSchool’sknowledgebase.TheSchool’sresearchistoincludebasicresearch,strategicandappliedresearchandartisticdevelopmentwork.

Strategic objectives and focus areas

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Focus area

•TheSchool’sresearchistobestrengthenedinfabricationandthematerials-basedthroughtheoretical,technicalandartisticresearchprojects.

•TheSchoolistocreategreatersynergybetweenresearchandteachingbylinkingthestudentstotheSchool’sresearchinintegratedresearchandteachingenvironments.

•TheSchoolistoparticipateincreasinglyininterdisciplinarynationalandinternationalresearchpartnerships.

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Strategic objectives and focus areas

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4.2EducationKAVisionogStrategi2017

TheSchoolistoeducatearchitectstothink,drawandbuildincontexts.Architectsactinanincreasinglycomplexworld.Thiscreatesincreaseddemandsondifferentiationintheeducationalprogrammeandgreaterneedsforacademicdepth.Becauseofthis,thereshouldbedifferentwaysinwhichtoqualifyasanarchitect.

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Focus areas

•Projectteachingistotakeplacetoahigherdegreeinintegratedresearchandteachingenvironments,andtheinteractionbetweenprojectteachingandcourseteachingistobestrengthened.

•TheSchool’sstudentsaretohavemorepossibilitiesoffocusingandchoosingthedirectionoftheirstudycourse.

•TheSchool’steachingistostrengthenitsinternationalfocus,e.g.throughstudentexchangeswiththeleadingresearchandteachingenvironments.

•TheSchoolistocreatesettingsthatwillsupporttheworkwithfabricationthroughtheartisticandexperimental.

•TheSchoolistostriveforhighqualityinthephysicalstudyenvironmentintermsoffacilitiesandspaceforavarietyofstudyforms.

•ITistobestrengthenedcontinuouslyasanintegratedtoolintheartistic,analytical,practicalandreflectivearchitecturalproduction.

•TheSchoolistodevelopnewteachingforms,andstrengthenandensurethepedagogicalanddidacticcompetencesoftheteachers.

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Strategic objectives and focus areas

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4.3DisseminationKAVisionogStrategi2017

TheSchoolistobeastrongandvisibleplayerinarchitecturaldebateandleaveitsmarkasanacademicknowledgecentreandaforumfordebateandknowledgeexchange.Asaculturalinstitutionandbasedonitsarchitecturalresearch,itsartisticdevelopmentactivitiesanditsstudyresults,theSchoolistobeanactiveparticipantinsociety’sandtheprofession’sdebateonarchitecturaldevelopment.

Bywayofexample,theSchoolhasaprivilegedopportunitytoplacesignificantmoral,aestheticandethicalissuesonarchitecture’ssocietalagenda–issuesthatotherwiserisknotbeingraisedandwhichtheSchoolshouldacceptanobligationtoraise.

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Focus areas

•TheSchoolistodeveloponedigitalplatform,whichistocollectinformationinternallyanddisseminateinformationexternallyconcerningthemanydifferentactivitiesattheSchool.

•TheSchoolistogivehigherprioritytoitspressandmediawork,sothattheSchool’sknowledgeandacademicresultsarecommunicatedtotheoutsideworld.

•TheSchoolistohaveanactiveinternationalpublishingactivityinelectronicandprintedform,whichreflectstheextentofresearchanddisseminatestheSchool’sresearchanddebate.•TheSchoolistodevelopanumberofnewphysicalanddigitalexhibitionspacesthatwillserveasawindowandmeetingplacesbetweentheSchool,societyandtheinternationalarchitecturalenvironment.

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4.4PersonnelKAVisionogStrategi2017

TheSchoolistocreateabetterbalancebetweenresearchandpractice-basedteachingbyrecruitingmorearchitecturalresearchersbasedonthegivenfinancialframework.TheSchoolshouldalsocontinuetoaimtorecruittheprofession’sbestandmostdedicatedpractisingarchitects.Finally,theSchoolistoensureaprofessionaladministrationconsistingofhighlyqualifiedemployees.

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Focus areas•TheSchoolistohaveanambitiousandtransparentrecruitmentandcareerspolicythatwillensurediversityincompetencesandreflecttheSchool’sstrategicambitions.

•Theresearch-basedprojectteachingistobestrengthenedthroughtherecruitmentofresearcherswithteachingexperience.

•TheSchoolistofurtherthedevelopmentofprofessionalandpersonalcompetencesintheindividualemployeestrategically,includingbygivingprioritytorelevantfurthertrainingandeducationalopportunities.

•Relationshipsandcollaborationbetweentheacademicandtheadministrativeenvironmentsistobestrengthened.

•TheSchoolistohaveefficientandhealthyworkenvironmentconditionsofahighquality

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Strategic objectives and focus areas

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4.5ManagementKAVisionogStrategi2017

Thevisionaboutcultivatingdifferencecallsforaflexible,attentiveanddynamicmanagementgroupthatgivestheindividualresponsibilityandroomtomanoeuvrewithintheSchool’soverallstrategy.Thisalsoappliestotheadministrativemanagers.TheSchool’sresearchandteachingenvironmentsaretobemanagedthrougharchitecturalinsight.

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Focus areas

•TheSchoolistoestablishasimplermanagementstructure.

•TheSchoolistoestablishaflexibleandmoredynamicacademicbasicstructurethatcanaccommodatetherequirementforgreateracademicdiversityintheeducationalprogramme.

•TheSchoolistoensuretalentdevelopmentatallmanagementlevels.

•TheSchoolistoensurethedevelopmentofprofessionalmanagementcompetencesamongallemployeeswithmanagementresponsibility.

•TheSchoolistoensuremanagementcommunicationthatusesdialoguetocreateownershipandparticipationinleadersandemployeesalike.

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4.6FinancialframeworkKAVisionogStrategi2017

GovernmentfundingconstitutetheSchool’sfinancialfoundation.Furthertothese,theSchoolneedstosupplementwithexternalresearchfundingandincomee.g.frominternationaleducationaloffers,whichmaycontributetoensuringthefinancialframeworkthatfacilitatestheimplementationoftheSchool’sstrategy.TheSchoolistoensurecontinuousfinancialautonomyandlatitudefororganisingandthusprioritisingtheacademicandprofessionaldevelopmentofaSchoolthatfostersdifference.

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Focus areas

•TheSchoolistogiveprioritytoensuringthatthefinancialresourcesandreservesarecontinuallyavailabletomakeitpossibletopursuestrategicobjectivesforresearchandteaching.

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Strategic objectives and focus areas

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4.7FacilitiesKAVisionogStrategi2017

TheSchoolistodevelopitsfacilitiesfurtherasanopen,attractiveandactivelycohesiveresearchandeducationalenvironmentofinternationalstandard.TheSchool’sfacilitiesaretosupportthestrategy’sfocusonfabricationandreflecttheobjectiveofachievingdifferentiatedresearchandteachingenvironments.

TheSchoolwillcontinuetomanageitsbuildingsinawaythatprovidesspaceforindividualresearchandstudystations.Thefacilitiesaretosupportthemethods,techniquesandmediaoftheindividualprofessionalcompetences.

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Focus areas

•TheSchool’ssettingsaretobesufficientlydifferentiatedtosupportmanydifferentwaysofresearchingandstudying.

•TheSchoolistohaveefficientworkshops,studiosandexhibitionroomsthatsupporttheexperimentalpractiseofresearchandeducation.

•Theworkshopcapacityistobeincreasedtoaccommodatetheneedsofresearchersandstudents.

•TheSchoolistoallocatespaceforfull-scaleworkshops.

•TheSchoolistodevelopinnovativeITworkshopsthatcansupporttheacademicdiversity.•Thelibraryistodevelopandsupportaccessibilitytoallformsofknowledge.

•TheSchool’scanteenandcaféaretosupporttheSchool’sresearchandeducationalenvironmentthroughmaximumopeninghours.

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Strategic objectives and focus areas

PreparationVisionandStrategy2017isdevisedonthebasisofcontributionsfromthewholeSchoolandagreedtobytheSchoolCouncilinSeptember2010. Editorial team SvenFeldingJørgenHaubergAndersAbrahamThomasBoJensenMetteRamsgaardThomsenAsgerHøegMetteMejlvangSørensenUffeHundrupExternal editorial consultantBirgitteKleis

DesignE-typesSusanGregersJensenPhotoSusanGregersJensen