USJ’s Head of the Department of Architecture and Design Participates in the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona
USJ's Head of the Department of Architecture and Design Participates in the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona
19
Aug
19/08/2026
USJ’s Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at USJ and Co-Director of the UNESCO-UIA Validation Board, Participates in the UIA World Congress of Architects in Barcelona
Prof. Nuno Soares, Head of the Department of Architecture and Design at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Saint Joseph, took part in a series of key official activities at the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 in Barcelona, as Co-Director of the UNESCO-UIA Validation Board. Prof. Soares joined architecture professionals, educators, and partners from around the world under the congress theme “Becoming: Architectures for a Planet in Transition,” marking Barcelona’s official inauguration as the UNESCO World Capital of Architecture.
At the International Union of Architects (UIA) Council Meeting on June 28, Prof. Soares presented two landmark accreditation guides on behalf of the UNESCO-UIA Validation Board, advancing global frameworks for architectural education. The first, the UNESCO-UIA Validation System Procedures Manual for Study Programmes, sets out a rigorous global framework to ensure university architecture and urban design programs meet international benchmarks. The second, UNESCO-UIA Validation System Procedures Manual for Systems, offers a strategic guide for evaluating and validating broader educational and professional systems worldwide.
Prof. Soares also attended the Barcelona International Convention Centre as a featured speaker in the congress panel session on the following day. At the session “Becoming: Architectures for a Planet in Transition“, he outlined international validation procedures alongside a distinguished panel of experts and educators, including Dr. Jana Revedin (UNESCO Delegate and Advisor), Dr. Deniz İncedayı (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Turkey, and Co-Director of the Validation Board), Dr. Sherine Wahba (Cairo University, Egypt), and Dr. Kirsten Schemel (Münster School of Architecture, Germany). Taking on examples from around the world, the speakers highlighted how the Charter for Architectural Education, developed by the UIA (International Union of Architects) with UNESCO’s support, serves as a vital resource for institutions striving to build a virtuous, context-sensitive built environment.
On July 2, Prof. Soares, met with the Council during the XXX UIA General Assembly to present the annual report of activities. A productive session focused on advancing international benchmarks for architecture and urban practice worldwide.
Architectural Programmes at USJ
The University of Saint Joseph’s Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture form a two-degree sequence that provides students with the opportunity to gain the creative abilities, technical skills, and professional knowledge necessary to become an effective and respected architect in Macao and internationally. Addressing the full spectrum of relevant technological, urban, economic, environmental, social, theoretical, and historical issues, the curriculum emphasises ethics as well as expertise, requiring students to constantly evaluate the consequences of their work on the built environment and the natural world. Topics range from contemporary digital design techniques to architectural heritage preservation, and the entire course is founded on an appreciation of the importance of sustainability and resource conservation.
