Currently, the UIA Professional Practice Commission consists of 35 members representing all five UIA global regions, working collaboratively to study current practice issues with an emphasis on those impacting the cross-border mobility of architects.
The PPC’s 2022-2023 focus is on nine initiatives ranging from surveying all 115 Member Sections (the AIA serves as the U.S. Member Section) for variations in policies and practices related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the development of international plan of work policy guidelines. The first completed initiative of the current triennium was collecting comparative data on behalf of a request from the French Order of Architects. 15 Member Sections representing all UIA Regions were surveyed for differences in access to the title of Architect (extent of formal education and diploma, internship, etc.) and how national institutes, orders, associations, and unions were structured and what authority and purpose each had. The survey also compares variations in the conditions of admission to the profession (diploma, internship, examination, etc.) and what entity regulates the profession, along with analyzing what if any services beyond the design of buildings architects are entitled to perform.
In broader UIA news, detailed planning is well underway for the 2023 UIA World Congress (July 2-6) and General Assembly (July 6-9) to be held in Copenhagen. The theme of this triennial event is Sustainable Futures—Leave No One Behind, the central, transformative promise of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the commitment of all United Nations member states to reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities. The Congress consists of keynote speakers, lectures, seminars, research presentations, study trips and exhibitions and is expected to attract over 10,000 participants. Following the World Congress, UIA Member Section delegates to the General Assembly will elect the UIA Bureau and Council for the 2023-2026 Triennium as well as select the host city for the 2029 World Congress. The 2026 World Congress will be held in Barcelona.
For more information on the 2023 World Congress Copenhagen, visit https://uia2023cph.org/.
James M. Wright, FAIA, NCARB
Past President, AIA International
Co-Director, UIA Professional Practice Commission
