IPAU 2025 Conference: The Faculty of Architecture Develops its International PhD Programme and Enhances the Quality of Scientific Research and Academic Excellence

The Faculty of Architecture organised the fourth edition of the international conference IPAU 2025, which this year was dedicated to doctoral studies at the faculty, the advancement of scientific research, and academic excellence.

The Faculty of Architecture's most significant annual event brought together personalities from academic life and field experts from renowned universities in the region, Europe, and the United States of America.

Professors and architects from Arizona State University, the Vienna University of Technology, the Polytechnic University of Bari, the University of Minho in Portugal, the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic, the University of Cyprus, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Sarajevo, the Polytechnic University of Tirana, and Polis University, demonstrated how doctoral studies function at their institutions and what is being done to advance scientific research and academic excellence.

In June 2025, the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Prishtina was awarded a grant by the Austrian ShER Programme to support a joint PhD programme between the faculty and the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) in the field of sustainable architecture and spatial planning.

During the one-day international conference, which served as a solid foundation for establishing the joint architecture programme between UP and TU Wien, it was stated that such programmes are the future of universities and a powerful guarantee that they will continue to generate knowledge.

The UP Faculty of Architecture was described as a place where vision becomes action and reflection becomes creation. The PhD programme with the Vienna University of Technology was evaluated as an empowerment of UP's openness to the world, as things done together are done much better. The conference concluded that architecture is not merely about construction; it must also protect humanity and the planet.

The welcome address at the conference was given by the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Violeta Nushi. Also addressing the attendees were the Rector of the University of Prishtina, Prof. Arben Hajrullahu; the Rectors of the Polytechnic University of Tirana and Polis University, Prof. Akil Fundo and Prof. Besnik Aliaj; the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at the Vienna University of Technology, Thomas Dilinger; the Director of the Kosovo Accreditation Agency, Naim Gashi; and the Vice-Rectors of the University of Prishtina, Prof. Rozafa Basha and Prof. Avni Hajdari.

The opening of IPAU 2025, under the theme "Doctoral Studies in the Faculty of Architecture, Advancing Research and Academic Excellence," was accompanied by an artistic flute and clarinet performance by artists Alisa Halimi and Diellor Gajtani.

The University of Prishtina counts among its main priorities internationalisation, networking, and joint study programmes, with the aim of continuously elevating scientific research, the quality of teaching, and its ranking on prestigious international platforms.