Re-Thinking Architectural Education in Turkey: Cultivating A Reciprocal Relationship Between Education and Practice

Date

2025-7-07

Author

Kezer, Nihan Büşra

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Since Vitruvius, the unity of theoretical knowledge and practical experience has been regarded as a fundamental requirement of architectural education. However, as apprenticeship-based educational models became institutionalized, this continuity has been fractured over time. Especially after architectural theory was recognized as an independent field in the 1960s, views on bringing education and practice together gained prominence, and various aspects of architectural education have become a subject of debate on various platforms. From the 1990s onward, in these discussions, the concept of professional practice was predominantly framed around the needs of the construction industry. In addition, due to legal, institutional, and pedagogical problems, the persistence of this disjunction had a negative impact on both the quality of educational environments and the development of the architectural profession in Türkiye. Furthermore, the rapid and impactful transformations currently occurring in architectural education and practice call for a reconceptualization of this relationship. This study aims to identify structural, pedagogical, and administrative areas that will support the establishment of a reciprocal relationship between education and practice, and to offer recommendations for the development of the educational system. To this end, the historical development and current debates in architectural education are explored through a literature review. Also, surveys conducted with students and graduates, as well as interviews with academics and professionals contributing to education, are used to analyze critical problems and solutions for improvement. The research suggests a holistic framework that takes into account ongoing professional transformations, collaboration of stakeholders, and alternative pedagogical models for achieving a qualified, productive, and flexible educational system.

Subject Keywords

Architectural Education, Architectural Practice, Architecture Schools, Education-Practice Integration, Architectural Pedagogies

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/115543

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis