Programme Information
It is known that programmes at the masters and doctorate level in the area of interior architecture are limited, especially in Turkey. The increase in the number of interior architecture programmes at undergraduate level is an indicator of the need of this field. For reasons such as; the variety and richness of needs and demands in Turkey and the World; the increase of the scales of spaces in which we dwell; the abundance of industrial products, components and materials that constitute the physical and spatial body of the building; and the decrease in the physical and functional deterioration period, point out the need for education at undergraduate, master and doctorate level but also introduce the need for specialist and academics in this area.
Founded in 2001, the Istanbul Technical University-ITU Department of Interior Architecture continues its development at the undergraduate level. With accumulation in all disciplines within its body, it was necessary for ITU to provide a graduate programme in interior architecture in parallel to the undergraduate agenda in order to satisfy the needs previously stated. With the leadership of Germany, International Master of Interior Architecture Design-IMIAD programme was developed in 2005 and one year later, ITU joined to the programme. The IMIAD Program is jointly coordinated and run by the departments of interior architecture of: Hochschule Für Technik-HFT/Stuttgart-Germany, Scuola Universiteria Professionale Della Svizzera-SUPSI/Lugano-Switzerland, The Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University-CEPT/Ahmedabad-India and Istanbul Technical University-ITU/, Istanbul-Turkey. The University of Cincinnati-UC/Ohio-USA is expected to join the IMIAD partnership soon. Programme is run/operated by programme coordinators. Overall situation assessments are made with annual meetings one or two times in a year.
ITU IMIAD programme had its first graduates in 2008-2009 academic year. Our graduates have the chance to work as an academician in state or foundation universities or finding job opportunities in practice and administrative levels of the profession as well.
Historical Background of the Programme
International Masters of Interior Architectural Design Program (IMIAD) was developed as a Curriculum Development project under EU by Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT). IMIAD has been run since 20052006 academic year by the Department of Interior Design/Architecture programs mentioned below, based on the IMIAD Memorandum of Agreement signed between Istanbul Technical University (ITU) (Istanbul, Turkey), Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) (Edinburgh, Scotland), Lahti Polytechnic (LAMK) (Lahti, Finland), Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana (SUPSI) (Lugano, Switzerland), and Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT) (Stuttgart, Germany). The Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT) (Ahmedabad, India) joined the collaboration from the 20112012 academic years onwards. ECA and LAMK withdrew from the IMIAD Partnership in 2014. In addition, University of Cincinnati will join the IMIAD partnership soon.
Aims of The Programme
- To createan international and multidisciplinary environment for the exchange of postgraduate and professional experiences,
- To recognize the professional conditions in different countries and cultural environments, as well as to expand professional connections abroad.
- To strengthen the professional communication environment by sharing educational and professional experiences,
- To improve spatial perception, presentation techniques and spatial design skills,
- To make systematic research about design and gain theoretical and practical knowledge with the ability to finalise a dissertation,
- To actively take part in administrative and decision making processes about design,
- To meet the need of human resource in the educational, professional and practical fields of interior architecture and to represent our country in an international arena.
Vision
The vision of IMIAD is to constantly develop; to have powerful national and international relations; to keep a balance within the triad of research, education and practice; to aim for serving the society and internationalization target in the areas of Interior Architecture profession.
Mission
The mission of the International Master of Interior Architectural Design (IMIAD) is to raise skilled professionals; who can carry out corporate and practical work in the light of science within the triad of education, research and practice; who aim to serve the society at an international level; who are renowned nationally and internationally, preferred and entrepreneur; who can lead, take responsibility, work in a team and has the efficient and required knowledge in the field. IMIAD constantly develops itself in the changing and transforming circumstances.
Fields of the Programme
The programme is based on four topic modules†agreed upon by the partner institutions:
Design
Technology and Science
Professional Practice and Communication
Culture and Human Sciences
Study Fields:
Research-based design / Interdisciplinary Fields in Interior Architecture / Cultural Studies in Interior Architectural Design / Interior Architectural Design and Technology / Project Management / Interior Architectural Design and Environmental Control Systems ( Acoustics, Lighting etc.) / Interior Space Materials and Components / Furniture in the Context of Interior Space / History of Interior Architecture, Genres and Styles / Typological Subjects in Interior Architecture Field (Health, Education, Housing, Culture etc.) / Digital Design / Media and Architecture / Marketing and Communication
Beneficiaries:
Interior Architects
Architects
Industrial Product Designers
Laboratories and Equipments:
Faculty Computer Laboratories
Modelling Atelier
Studios
University and Faculty Libraries
Structure of the Programme
The program consists of four-semester (two years). In accordance with the Bologna agreement, every semester has a course load equivalent to 30 ECTS and the programme as a whole thus is made up of 120 ECTS credit points. The program consists of common lecture modules, a compulsory exchange semester and international workshop where all IMIAD students come together in one of the partner institutions. The IMIAD program promotes teaching staff exchange and joint research as well.The academic degree offered by the program is M.A.-Master of Artsâ€.
Main Principles of the Programme
Principles, which have been prepared by collaboration and according to joint agreements, are stated below:
The lectures, seminars and design supervision take place in English and the main language of the partner university.
Student exchange†will be made between IMIAD students from partner universities under the defined conditions.
The programme is based on four topic modules†agreed upon by the partner institutions.
The programme of IMIAD is design (Ä°nterior Architecture Project Studios) centered owing to its base of design education.
Study of Masters will be completed by a thesis.
The Execution of the Programme
The execution of the Programme is as given below:
1st Semester: The education will be carried out in the institution to which the students originally registered to (home institution).
2nd Semester: Each student continues her/his education in one of the four institutions other than the one in which she/he has registered to.
3rd Semester: A workshop of maximum two weeks is carried out in the country of one of the partner institutions. Every IMIAD student takes part in this workshop, which is hosted and organized by one of the five partner institutions alternating every year. The evaluation of student work produced at the workshops will be transmitted to the project coordinator of each institution and will be used in the calculation of the end of semester grades. Later on every student continues her/his education by taking part in the courses in the institution to which she/he has registered to (home institution).
4th Semester: The students continue and finish their education in the institution to which they have registered to (home institution).
Educational Fees
The students will follow the conditions for tuition and fees of the institution to in which they apply to. No additional payment is applicable. However due to the nature of the programme, the students are expected to self-fund living and transportation expenses in the student exchange semester and workshop. The students may utilize the possibilities brought by the Socrates-Erasmus Programme in their second semester.
The Total Credits Needed to Graduate
The language of the programme is the national language of the partner institution (Turkish), however according to ITU regulations, at least 30% of the courses need to be taken in English. The Masters Thesis will be prepared and written according to the regulations of the home institution concerned (in English/Turkish) provided that a comprehensive summary in English and Turkish is included. All courses of the programme (90 ECTS) need to be successfully finished in order for the Graduate Thesis to be submitted. Attendance to the international IMIAD workshop is obligatory in order to graduate.
The project and course evaluations will be carried out by the institution concerned with the course and project. In the case of a failure on a student in a course or project other than her/his home institution, the solution will be determined by her/his home institution.
The student transcripts will be prepared by the institution to which they have registered to (home institution). The Masters diploma will be recognized by the partner institutions of the programme.
Conditions for Student Admittance to the Programme
ITU International Master of Interior Architectural Design Programme -IMIAD- has not accepted foreign students since 2014.