The Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia (AASA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 24th and 25th, 2024, at the Atrium in Brisbane. This significant event was graciously supported by the School of Architecture at the University of Queensland, providing an excellent backdrop for discussions on the future of architecture education in the region.
Led by AASA President Associate Professor John Doyle, the AGM serves as a crucial forum for leaders and educators in architecture education to convene, share knowledge, and collaboratively address the challenges and opportunities within the discipline. This year's meeting was particularly noteworthy due to the evolving landscape of architectural education and the pressing need to adapt to new technological and regulatory demands.
More than 40 participants attended the meeting, including leaders from architecture schools in Australasia, members of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture the Architects (Professor Cathi Ho Schar and Eric Wayne Ellis), Accreditation Council of Australia (Kate Doyle and Dr Giorgio Marfella), the Australian Institute of Architects (Dr Cameron Bruhn), Australian Deans of the Built Environment and Design (Professor Paul Loh), the Association of Consulting Architects (Brett Hudson), the Student Organised Network in Architecture (Liam Leblond), and the Student Architecture Network of New Zealand (Sakina Ali).
The AGM featured several pressing topics, including discussions on the current state of the review of the accreditation procedure and proposed changes to the Architects Act in New South Wales. Additionally, the Federal government’s proposed changes to OS-HELP eligibility and a reduction in international student enrollment, set to be introduced in 2025, will pose challenges for architecture schools, as their revenue will be significantly impacted.
The AGM also showcased several projects the organisation has undertaken over the past 12 months. For example, winners of the 2023 Learning and Teaching Research Grant presented their projects, including: Chatting to DALL·E: A Post-Digital Exploration of Architectural Learning by Dr. Cristina Garduno Freeman (UNSW/Massey University/Monash University); The Architect's Dream, the Sleep of Reason by Dr. Sean Pickersgill (University of South Australia and RMIT); and Co-creative AI in Architecture by Dr. Simon Weir (University of Sydney).
A special event was held at the BVN Brisbane Studio to celebrate the launch of the ACSA x AASA Conference in 2026, along with the award presentation for the 2024 AASA Education Prize, which specifically focused on wellbeing culture (details available in a separate report).
One of the key objectives of the AGM was to facilitate networking and collaboration among attendees. The event offered numerous opportunities for participants to connect with peers, share experiences, and establish new professional relationships. Informal gatherings, such as coffee breaks and special events, played a vital role in fostering a sense of community and camaraderie among architecture educators and professionals.
The 2024 AASA AGM concluded with a collective commitment to advancing the field of architecture through sustained collaboration and innovation. Attendees left the event with a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of new ideas to implement in their respective institutions and practices.
Special thanks to Associate Professor Anthony Moulis and his team at the School of Architecture @ the University of Queensland for providing us with this beautiful venue, the Atrium for the 2024 AASA AGM.
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