Practicing ArchitectureInternational Union of Architects Professional Practice Commission

A Brief Introduction

UIA Accord on Recommended International Standards of Professionalism In Architectural Practice

The International Union of Architects (Union Internationale des Architectes or UIA) was founded in 1948 to unite the architects of all countries in a federation of their national organizations. The UIA now represents some 1,300,000 architects in more than 100 countries. The mission of UIA is to represent all architectural organizations and individual architects of different countries, with parallel non-government organizations of other disciplines, and with intergovernmental institutions. The UIA is recognized by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (Geneva), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Vienna), International Labor Organization (Geneva), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Paris), World Health Organization (Geneva), and United Nations Center for Human Settlements (Nairobi).

The UIA established the Professional Practice Commission and approved its program in 1994. The Commission has devoted nine years of intensive study and debate in development of the "UIA Accord on Recommended International Standards of Professionalism in Architectural Practice" (the Accord) and nine related Accord policy guidelines. The Accord contains a statement of principles of professionalism and a series of 16 policy issues in a format of definitions and background statements followed by policy statements. These documents were presented to the triennial UIA Congress and Assembly in Beijing, China in July 1999. The Assembly unanimously approved the resolution adopting the documents. This is an historic achievement - it is the first time the profession of architecture has adopted a global standard. Updates by the Commission, approved by the Council, and through the Assembly have been implemented since that time.

UIA Accord & Recommended Policies (English)

• The Accord

Recommended Guidelines (English)

• Accreditation/Validation/Recognition
• Practical Experience/Training/Internship
• Demonstration of Professional Knowledge & Ability
• Registration/Licensing/ Certification
• Guide to Competitive Quality Based Selection of Architects
• Ethics and Conduct
• Continuing Professional Development
• Scope of Practice
• Forms of Practice
• Practice in a Host Nation
• Intellectual Property and Copyright
• Governance of the Profession
• Building Project Delivery Systems

Professional Practice Information Notes

• Note 1: Computer Practice: Aspects of Automated Information Management
• Note 2: Building Codes and Standards
• Note 3: Integrated Practice
• Note 4: Dispute Resolution
• Note 5: Compilation of Practice Handbooks
• Note 6: Development of Architects’ Compensation

UIA Draft Disciplines in the Architectural Sector

Case Studies

• UIA Accord Application in Malaysia
• UIA Accord Application in Korea
• UIA Accord Seminar at World Trade Organization

UIA Accord in Other Languages (2008, with policies if available)

• CZECH
• DEUTSCH
• ESPAÑOL
• FRANÇAIS
• GREEK
• MAGYAR
• RUSSIAN
• TURKISH

The UIA Accord has also been translated into the following languages and the contacts for securing a copy of each are referenced.

• Chinese
  Xu Anzhi, The Architectural Society of China: xuanzhi@vip.sina.com
• Japanese
  Masako Yasuda, Japan Institute of Architects: myasuda@jia.or.jp
• Korean
  S.Y. Kim, Federation of Institutes of Korean Architects: fika2000@korea.com

Recommendations

• Recommendations on Mutual Recognition Agreements
• Recommendation on the Use of the UIA Accord with National Governments and Relevant Authorities
• Model Mutual Recognition Agreement

UIA PPC Meeting Information

• 1994-2010 Meeting Locations
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (March 2004)
• Washington, DC, USA (November 2005)
• Melbourne, Australia (November 2006)
• Seoul, South Korea (October 2007)
• Marrakech, Morocco (December 2008)
• New Delhi, India (September 2009)
• Paris, France (October 2010)
• Tangier, Morocco (March 2012)
• Durban, South Africa (March 2013)

Website Links

• Practice Standards Database

Contacts:

Rick A. Lincicome, AIA
ricklincicome@aia.org
The American Institute of Architects
1735 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20006 USA

Zhuang Weimin
zhuangwm@tsinghua.edu.cn
Telephone: 86 010 62773170
Facsimile: 86 010 62784727
Architectural Design and Research Institute
Tsinghua University
Haidian District
Beijing, China 100084

The International Union of Architects
www.uia-architectes.org
Tour Maine Montparnasse, B.P. 158
33 avenue du Maine
75755 PARIS cedex 15, France
Telephone: 33 1 45 24 36 88
Facsimile: 33 1 45 24 02 78
E-mail: uia@uia-architectes.org