On Monday, 15th June, 2015, the EiABC Chair of Landscape Architecture hosted a workshop with various stakeholders to discuss the proposed curriculum for a new M.Sc program in Landscape Architecture, which should be launched at the start of the 2015/2016 academic year. This will be the first Master of Landscape Architecture degree in East Africa and the second in Africa. The workshop began with a welcome speech by the Scientific Director Joachim Dieter. Joachim Dieter outlined the objectives of EiABC in his welcome speech and the role of the proposed master degree within the larger objectives of the institute. He also explained the making behind this degree. Initially a Master of Environmental Planning and Landscape Design was created, but it was quickly discovered that the scope of this degree was too large to be adequately covered by master students.
After the welcome speech, EiABC lecturer of landscape architecture Yusuf Zoheb explained what the profession of landscape architecture and the curriculum entail. He expounded upon the idea that the discipline consists of three pillars: academia, the industry, and government policy. Academia provides the skills for the industry to operate as well as the ability for professionals to critically assess their work. Government policy determines the environment within which the industry needs to operate.
Kumelachew Yeshitela, Director of Graduate Programs Dr. Fisseha Wegayehu and Visiting Lecturer Kelly Leviker, Organizer of the Conference, discussing with Guests and Stakeholder
The new degree will be a two-year, full-time degree, which will focus on the practical aspects of the profession, but will gradually accommodate more theoretical aspects of the discipline. The curriculum follows the principles outlined within the Charter for Landscape Architecture Education produced by the International Federation of Landscape Architects together with UNESCO. There will be a particular emphasis on a rural to urban knowledge transfer to ground the profession within Ethiopia.
During the workshop portion of the meeting, participants reflected and presented ideas of how landscape architecture must tailor itself to the Ethiopian context, contribute to the rapid development of Ethiopia, and mitigate the effects of climate change. The idea of infusing the degree with aspects of ‘projective design’ were highlighted as a particularly effective tactic to mitigate the effects of climate change. It was also suggested to open the entry requirements to be inclusive of graduates beyond architecture, as this will be an effective means of producing a variety of graduates, who can analysis and create landscape architecture works from a wider variety of perspectives. (ZF)
