Therefore Architecture is actually an expression of human experience in the creation of usable spaces. The physical enclosure which defines a space is the structure and the medium required to build the structure is Material.

The expression of Technology can be defined as the technique to develop a structure envelope to define a space, conveyed through a medium of a certain materials, reflected in the building form.

Therefore the education of Architecture should respond to the Technological growth, the needs and requirements of the people and the availability and affordability of materials.

Architectural is an expression of human experience in the creation of build environment. Technology is incorporated to develop a physical enclosure exploiting the intrinsic properties of the material.

As per the requirements of people and discovery of new materials, Technology has adopted itself during the past.

Primitive shelters of early nomadic hunter barely advanced beyond the simple type of hut. Egyptian and Greek monuments constructed of tall stone columns and beams had constrained of short span which necessitated a close spacing of columns. With Romans developing the use of circular arches and distinctive expression of the ‘some’, permitted larger spacing.

The beginning of the 18th century was marked by the advent of Industrial Revolution resulting in the change of social, political and economical infrastructure. The need and requirement of the people for larger public buildings, railway station, bridges, industrial sheds gave rise to the use of new appropriate material like steel, coal etc.

My be in rural context the use of locally available materials and local construction techniques give rise to economical structures as per people’s needs and requirements, but in Urban Contexts having scarcity and thigh cost of land, the high urbanised growth and impact of population inflow has given rise to a greater and serious concern to very effective, functional and utility bound spaces. The people’s need and demand for large spans, more floor area spaces, high rise buildings have given rise to development of new technological advancement of use of High Tensile Steel and suspended structures.

Therefore keeping in view the observation and considering as explain, it is suggested that the teaching process/methods should follow the evolution process – invent of the technological system, material application in the various historical movements and periods.

Student of Architecture must have the feel, taste, use, physical and chemical test of the materials so that the same could be co-related and should become inbuilt process thought in evolution of design.

It has been felt that the following subject do not find mention in the course syllabus:

1. Design Criteria
2. Technological Awareness and Eco-Friendly Environment
3. Construction and Project Management
4. Administrative Management Skill
   1. Design Criteria
      1. Disaster mitigation technology in architectural education – as 85% of our country is prone to natural disasters and more than 15 lakh dwelling units are destroyed by natural disasters every year.
      2. Exposure to cost effective designs for the rural and the urban poor – more than 50% population of cities reside in sub human conditions in city slums and 70% of our people live in rural area.
      3. Fire safety aspects
   2. 2. Technological Awareness and Eco-Friendly Environment
      1. Awareness of eco-friendly building materials and technologies.
      2. Non conventional energy resources
      3. Application of agricultural and industrial waste like fly-Ash, rice husk as substituted materials.
      4. Timber substitutes: MDF, Particle boards, Ferro-cement etc.
      5. Practical behaviour of various materials.
   3. 3. Construction and Project Management
      1. Construction scheduling and management
      2. Building Bylaws and clearance procedures
      3. Project management issues including tendering procedures, Arbitration, legal aspects.
      4. Services co-ordination – dealing consultants
      5. Matrix in respect to responsibilities, liabilities and duties of architect, owner and contractor. Prime, secondary and sharing responsibilities.
      6. International Standards, (ISO) and Global Tendering etc.
   4. 4. Administrative Management Skill
      1. Business orientation/development
      2. Office management
      3. Dealing with Clients
      4. Financial planning: The need of the hour is to channelize the talents of the younger generation to ensure their development as the “new millennium professionals”. The young architect must be equipped to respond to the issues of sustainable development, environment considerations and poverty alleviation. Sound technical knowledge of cost effective building materials, appropriate technologies, energy efficient options are the tools to provide design solutions that are sensitive to these issues.
         Therefore it we go by what Winston Churchill said many years ago. “We shape our buildings and thereafter our buildings shape us”, we need to restructure both the education and the profession to meet the changing needs of the people.
         The Quality of Architectural education should be based on
         1. Refinement and chiseling out the personality to be called as “Master of all crafts” – an Architect.
         2. To understand the Multiplicity, roles and activities of the parent Architectural Institutes.
         3. Integrating the latest Technological advancement and systems.
         4. Use of Material application based on socio economical needs and requirements.
         5. Exposure to Modern Information Technological Systems, Global standardisation and norms. Professional competency and responsibilities towards the society.
         6. Awareness amongst the masses about the profession of Architecture. It is unfortunate that in spite of having such, so called large net work of more than 100 Schools of Architecture in India, we lack in the basic Prime information structure, there is hardly any R/D wing/organised and equipped academy/institute, yet to be generate at the National level so that quality of education could be monitored and controlled. All India Board of Architectural Education of AICTE, the Parent organisation controlling the overall quality of education is not adequately equipped and depends upon the council of Architecture who in turn depends upon hired professionals to guide and inspect the various schools of Architecture which by itself is a full time co-ordinating and research oriented continuous process.
            In such Pathetic conditions when the governing and regulatory bodies by themselves are on hired services, then how can we control the quality of education professionally and adequately.
            I therefore very strongly suggest that there should e a proper permanent Academy of Architectural Education to monitor the quality of Architectural education. We may proudly say that we have the highest number of schools of Architecture in the region in our country but sorry to state that we have the Poorest monitoring authorities and the system of controls on the Qualitative Product of our schools.

My suggestions for the consideration of professional and academicians for formation of suitable Institute of Architectural Studies having the scope of work as under.

Institute of Architectural Studies

Formation of Institute of Architectural Studies, an Apex Institute with statuary Powers to Control of Quality of architectural education in India and avoiding of multiplicity of various authorities.

Scope of Works

1. Monitoring & Certification
2. R/D wing (Train the Trainers Programme) all on regular basis
3. Education Programme and Short term refresher courses.
4. Studies Material
1. Permanent Technical staff fully equipped with knowledge, know how.
2. Inspection of various schools to adhere to minimum educational programmes and updating and upgradation of educational systems from time to time.
3. Upgradation and updating educational programme for the Trainer. (To Train the Trainers)
4. Documentation of Research work and inter-exchange of Relevant data and information amongst the schools and institutions.
5. Updating of Print Materials available in Indian and Global Context.
6. Use of latest technologies & developments like – Alternative Materials, Use of Alternative energy systems.
7. Research oriented works to be projected
8. Inter relationship of various disciplines like – Town Planning, Landscape urban designing, slum upgradation, Infrastructure Development, rural development etc.

Overlapping roles of the Parent Institutes have by itself made things confusing. The hierarchy of personalities should in no way be a hindrance in professional approach to the problems. Instead of leading the world with 100 odd Schools of Architecture, we are still being lead, and are on borrowed knowledge, Systems and Technology etc.

In spite of the fact that India has most advanced and rich Traditions and vernacular Architecture starting from Mohan Jo Daro and Harrappa Civilization to Temple Architecture of South India, to Mughal Architecture and the Colonial Architecture of last 200 years, with availability of such rich building materials and craftsman; we are yet not properly equipped and geard professionally to render services to the various class of society in most befitting manner, Nor the society is yet aware of our Professional Competency and knowledge.

Therefore we need to have a self appraisal of our Profession to be able to keep up the Pace with the fast developing knowledge of Technology and Growth.

There are many other matter of concern which needs a serious thinking and a professional and practical approach.

1. Duration of Course
   All the course should be made financial sustainable viable and appropriate as per the need and requirement of people. It has been very critically analysed by Prof. Vijay Sohoni Principal College of Architecture, Nashik that the total contact hours 3610 could be adjusted well contained in eight semester or may be 3840 hours could also be adjusted within four years of study period.
   Financial burden is reduced at least of Rs. 75,000/- to Rs. 1 lakh per student/per child on the parents which would make the education of Architectural profession more sustainable and affordable.
2. Approvals of Schools
   Serious thinking is required on this issue weather we have already adequate number of Schools or even surplus Schools of Architecture. Along with opening of Schools awareness amongst this masses needs to be generated for the profession of Architecture.
3. Human Need & Resources
   Education of Architecture should be based on Human needs and resources. Use of Local Materials and technology, environmental friendly Architectural and constructional, age old techniques systems and method of construction by appropriately use alternative materials should be adopted.
   These are some of the matters of concern. Council of Architecture and Indian Institute of Architects have a key role to play so that status and future of Architectural education in India could be properly monitored and chiselled out in the rightful direction and in the coming new Millennium we hope to be equipped and geared with new advancement in technology along with awareness of vernacular Architecture in which India is proud to be on top.

Ar. Charanjit S. Shah, Chairman Indian Institute of Architects Northern Chapter, Professional Advisor, South Asian Architecture Awards and Architect of the Year Awards, Visiting professor in School of Planning and Architecture. Authored Architects Hand Book – a ready Reckoner and Architectural Hand Books Series. Recipient of National Unity Award and National Gaurav Award for excellence in profession. He was also the organising Chairman SAARC 96 held in New Delhi.