Responses received to the questionnaire. FINDINGS

This section contains responses to a questionnaire, the aim of which is to assess the appetite for engagement in an initiative to build a coalition of architectural faculties across the Commonwealth. The questionnaire was included in a mailing that was initially circulated to 272 individuals among 137 schools of architecture in 16 CAA member countries among the 5 regions of the Commonwealth. The questionnaire was circulated on 13 April 2022 and closed on 26 April 2023, by which time 94 responses had been received.

1. Helping to build a mutually supportive online Community among teaching faculty in Commonwealth Schools of architecture? 

2. Collaborating with another Commonwealth School of Architecture?

3. Learning about Validation? 

4. Promoting engagement with the Commonwealth Youth for Sustainable Urbanisation (CYSU) network among your students? 

5. Please list any aspects/areas in your School/Faculty that would benefit from some form of capacity development/knowledge sharing?

The principal areas of interest among the 82 responses to this question included:

 Faculty development, including faculty exchange and mentoring.

 Collaborative design studios and design crits

 Joint research programmes

 Student exchange and scholarships

 Knowledge sharing associated with climate change and sustainable development.

 Urban design, urban development and housing the urban poor.

 New pedagogies and methodologies

A copy of the individual responses to this question is contained in Appendix III.

6. When did you last undertake a curriculum review?

 1-3 years ago 68 (72%)

 4-7 years ago 20 (21%)

 Over 8 years ago 6 (6%)

7. Do you consider that your curriculum adequately prepares students to engage with the needs of your local market, and with international policy priorities such as the Paris Climate Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda, and the Sendai Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction?

8. Are you interested in engaging in a discussion around the development of a universal set of core competencies?

9. The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report highlighted the urgency with which we all need to respond to the Climate Emergency. Lack of climate literacy has been recognised as an issue across the Commonwealth among faculty, students and practitioners alike. Which of the following aspects of climate literacy already form part of your curriculum?

10. Would your faculty benefit from training in any of the following areas? Very

11. Does your School/Faculty undertake research?

12. Does your School/Faculty undertake research in any of the following areas?

13. Are there any new areas of research you would like to explore as part of a coalition supported by the CAA?

The principal areas of interest among the 72 responses to this question included:

 Green Buildings & Sustainable Development

 Climate Change

 Heritage Conservation

 Harnessing indigenous knowledge

 Resilience & adaptation

 Design thinking and pedagogy

A copy of the individual responses to this question is contained in Appendix IV.

14. The CAA is engaging with regulators and policymakers in national and local government across the Commonwealth. Would you be interested in supporting the CAA in its research/policy activities in any of the following areas? [respondents were invited to select one or many]

15. If there are any other issues you wish to raise, please feel free to do so here.

The principal issues raised by the 45 responses to this question included:

 Promoting architecture for social purpose and building on indigenous knowledge

 Facilitating collaborations including join design studios

 Reflecting on the future of the profession, including the impact of artificial intelligence

 Facilitating knowledge exchange

 Helping to better connect academia with policymakers.

A copy of the individual responses to this question is contained in Appendix V.

16. This questionnaire is anonymous. If you'd like us to contact you, please enter your email address below and we'll be in touch:

Respondents identified a total of 70 individuals from 56 institutions from 15 countries among the 5 regions of the Commonwealth who wished to be followed up.

17. If you would like to suggest another colleague's name for inclusion in this initiative, please provide their full name, position and email address below: Respondents identified a further 46 individuals from 31 institutions from 11 countries among the 5 regions of the Commonwealth who were suggested for inclusion in this initiative.