An EU Common Training Framework for Landscape Architecture Addressing the Current Needs of Society (original) (raw)

2021, Stop and Think. Book of abstracts

The European Union (EU) Directive 2013/55/EC amends Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The 2013 amendment allows Member States to decide on a common set of minimum knowledge, skills and competences required to pursue a given profession through a Common Training Framework (CTF). Such a framework must combine training requirements formally documented by at least one third of the Member States. Qualifications gained under a CTF may be recognised automatically across the internal borders of the EU, but in any case, an agreed CTF for Landscape Architects would usefully act as a benchmark document for both teaching and professional recognition in countries across Europe. The backbone of the CTF for Landscape Architecture proposed by IFLA Europe and ECLAS is outlined in the body of this paper. The InnoLAND project organised a collaborative process for setting up this CTF as a basis for Landscape Architectural Training. Content is based on educational documents created by IFLA world, IFLA Europe and ECLAS and texts resulting from the EU-TEACH and the EU-LAND21 projects. Content also reflects evolving policies on urban and rural landscapes, higher education, and the needs of society for sustainable, biodiversity-rich landscapes and land uses, landscape democracy, health, and safety. Furthermore, this proposed CTF for Landscape Architecture responds to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) that call for the explicit integration of thematic issues relating to life on earth, biodiversity, water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanisation, transport, science, and technology. The CTF for Landscape Architecture is based on an Equivalence of Standards in education, training, qualifications, knowledge, skills, competences, and the professional conduct associated with practice. In addition, InnoLAND has identified 9 EU Member States that formally regulate the profession of Landscape Architecture and are able to meet Equivalence of Standards as required by the EU Commission. The profession is also regulated in the United Kingdom. The creation of a CTF for Landscape Architects will support and contribute to the EU’s goals of increasing professional mobility, safeguarding consumers, and ensuring an equitable distribution of skills and expertise across Member States. The content of the proposed CTF provides a template for national professional bodies and/or competent authorities to engage with the EU Commission.