Architectural Studies in the European Higher Education Area and in Greece: A Comparison Based on Accreditation Reports’ Findings

(Department of Architectural Engineering, Polytechnic School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract: The changes in higher education the last three decades were tremendous. From the Humbolt University in Germany to the American research university and nowadays to the Global university. European Union, trying to answer the brain drain to (mainly) U.S.A, and at the same time support its higher education system, boosted the creation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and its precursor, the Bologna Declaration (1999). The goal was to create a higher education system with common rules, easily recognized worldwide and promoted as the place to be for quality studies. Nowadays, 49 countries participate in EHEA, having agreed to important changes over the years, creating universities with 3 study cycles, cooperation, and quality assurance, supportive to students and staff mobility, focusing in learning results and supporting employability, innovation, and interdisciplinary studies, giving equal access to all. Architectural studies have been influenced by these changes as well. In Europe, architecture is a study subject in more than 350 schools of the 49 EHEA countries, with, equal characteristics in duration, content of study and degrees granted. In Greece there are seven schools of architecture. In this article we examine the most recent accreditation reports, to record their adaption to the Bologna Process suggestions and the state of art in architectural studies in Greece.