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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN SPAIN

Landscape Architecture Education in Spain Report 2013


Report for knowledge dissemination and debate

GABINO CARBALLO 05/10/2013

Revisin 00

Description of Landscape Architecture education framework in Spain. Gabino Carballo.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE IN SPAIN

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE EDUCATION IN SPAIN REPORT 2013

1. Spain's higher education legal framework: "Official and accredited education" and "Non-official education".
1.1 Official and accredited education. In Spain, accreditation of official university study programmes is regulated by law and monitored by governmental agencies responsible for verifying their quality and suitability for official approval and accreditation, by means of a nationwide scheme involving government dependent bodies and agencies that act independently from the Academic institution offering the study programme. Officially approved and accredited professional study programmes lead to degree qualifications ( Ttulos) with full academic and professional effects, and the degrees awarded in accordance with the latest higher education system are: 1. 2. 3. Bachelors Degree (Grado) - 240 ECTS Credits (4 years ) Masters Degree (Master Universitario) - 60 to 120 ECTS Credits (1-2 years) Doctoral Degree PhD (Doctorado) - (3-2 years)

Accredited Bachelor's Degrees and Masters Degrees qualifications will always be described as "Grado" and "Master Universitario". These qualifications comply with the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) framework, a European Union wide coherent framework for higher education academic credits transfer. Officially approved and accredited university study programmes must implement this framework by law in order to attain and retain accreditation in Spain. 1.2 Non-official education. Not all EHEA compliant study programmes in Spain are officially approved and/or accredited by government agencies. Some universities offer proprietary study programmes as an alternative to accredited study programmes for a variety of reasons: attending the continuing education market for individual self-advancement and also providing higher education to individuals that have failed to acquire Bachelors Degree qualifications. These programmes fall within the category of "Non officially approved and accredited" or " Estudios no oficiales" and they have no academic or professional effects. This means that they do not entitle the bearer to claim to have any specific academic or professional qualifications, as far as the Spanish authorities are concerned. Universities offering non-official study programmes are legally bound to clearly differentiate between officially approved and non-officially approved qualifications when naming their offer of non-official qualifications. For instance, non-accredited Master's Degrees will be described as " Master" on its own, without the term "Universitario". Certain non-officially approved and accredited study programmes may acquire a well deserved reputation. However, neither Professional Association, Government Agencies, Judiciary Authorities, nor Universities -other than the study programme provider- are obliged to recognize non-official qualifications in any way. 2. Accreditation System University taught study programmes accreditation is granted through the Spanish National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA). This is a government dependent quality assurance and accreditation provider for the Spanish Higher Education System and ensures that the data held in the Spanish Registry for Higher Education Universities and Qualifications, the Universities, Campuses and Qualifications Registry (RUCT), is correct

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and up to date. The RUCT acts as the Governmental official registry for the legal status of officially approved Universities, Campuses and Qualifications. All study programmes must be accredited by ANECA prior to their inclusion in the RUCT. The RUCT records all officially approved Universities and their Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees and PhDs, and each and every one of the officially approved and accredited study programmes and universities are assigned a specific number Code (Cdigo) by the RUCT. The same study programme may adquire different codes as it progrsses through various stages of official approval (by local government, by central government, etc) Prospective students should check the RUCT Code awarded to the study programme of their interest at every stage of their enquiries concerning degrees in Spain.

1:Registro de Universidades, Centros y Ttulos (RUCT) for Paisajismo search / "Mster Universitario en Paisajismo" appears twice due to two different approval stages, by Local Government and National Government.

The ANECA Registry records all events in the life of an officially approved and accredited study programme or an university. ANECA makes recommendations regarding procedures, staffing levels, quality of teaching, resources available to students, and continuity or loss of accreditation. The ANECA Registry Search Facility may be the simplest and safest way to verify the status of all officially approved and accredited study programmes in Spain. It is also possible to track qualifications by using the search facility that several Autonomous Communities own accreditation agencies offer. These agencies work within the ANECA framework, and generally show more detailed information about the study programmes available in each territory (ie: Catalonia, Madrid, etc) 3. Qualifications framework for Higher Education. The Qualifications Framework for Higher Education (MECES) is the reference framework adopted in Spain in order to structure degree levels. This framework is implemented at state wide level through various local governments, but final official approval and accreditation remains within the Government of Spain approved agencies remit.

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1 ANECA accreditation procedures for officially approved University Programmes.

Not all universities offer degrees named exactly the same, even if they have similar academic and professional effects. Each university may present proposals for the study programme considered to meet professional and academic demand. The proposal will consist of a report linking the study programme being considered and the proposed qualification to be awarded. This report will be assessed by ANECA and sent for the Consejo de Universidades Espaolas upon approval. If the Consejo agrees with ANECAs approval, it will be included in the RUCT and ANECA registries.

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4. Spanish qualifications and their professional effects


All Bachelor's and Masters Degrees accredited by ANECA enjoy full academic and professional effects in accordance with new and previous laws. Professional practice in Spain is currently under revision and will be subject to a new Professional Services and Associations Law (LSP) currently at draft stage. Bachelors and Masters degree study programmes in Spain are to be officially accredited for them to be recognised by the relevant public professional bodies (Colegios Profesionales) as valid professional qualifications. Colegios are regulated by law and subject to strict controls concerning admittance criteria for qualified professionals. Nonaccredited qualifications do not qualify the qualification holder for admittance at the relevant public professional body. Certain professional activities may be regulated by law and subject to licensure by law. Professions undertaking regulated activities are labelled "regulated professions" and subject to licensure. Architecture and several Engineering specialties are regulated, whilst Landscape Architecture (Paisajismo) is not. A recent EU Commissions Notice to Members highlighted that some activities necessary to practice landscape architecture are subject to restrictive administrative practices in Spain. Certain provisions in laws relating to public contracts and to the role of public professional bodies appear to limit Landscape Architects ability to operate independently if they are not qualified Architects or Engineers.

2 Spanish Official University Education Legal Framework - Official University Qualifications, Accreditation and Professional Practice Legal Framework in context with non official studies.

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5. Statutory limitation on use of terms "Architecture" and "Engineering" in qualifications


Landscape Architecture professional study programmes and qualifications will usually adopt the term Paisajismo in their title. Qualifications focusing in broader areas of landscape knowledge will employ the more general term Paisaje (Landscape )in their title. Some qualifications use the terms Arquitectura del Paisaje, even though the legally accorded name for the professional activity is Arquitectura Paisajstica, and both are a literal translation from Landscape Architecture. However, the usage of the terms Architecture (Arquitectura) or Engineering (Ingeniera) in official study programmes and qualifications is limited by several By-Laws. Accredited Landscape Architecture Bachelor's Degree (Grado Universitario) and Masters Degree (Master Universitario) qualifications may use these terms in their titles upon official approval and accreditation. These limitations do not apply to non-accredited qualifications, as long as they do not mislead the prospective student as to their nature and effects. Spanish qualifications may use terms in English language to refer to translated names of fields of study. Only the Spanish part of the qualification title is valid as mistranslations may occur: it is not unusual to find the terms "Landscaping" and "Landscaper" referring to "Landscape Architecture" and "Landscape Architects".

6. Landscape Architecture professional education in Spain


Currently, officially approved and accredited professional qualifications in Landscape Architecture can be obtained at the Bachelor's Degree Level or Master's Degree level. There are generally two main types of accredited Bachelor's Degree programmes leading to Landscape Architecture qualifications (Paisajismo) qualifications: Bachelor's Degree in Landscape Architecture: Grado en Paisajismo in Madrid. 240 ECTS Credits over 4 years, leading to a professional qualification in Landscape Architecture. This degree requires study in mathematics, design, construction techniques, art, history, natural and social sciences, irrigation techniques, software and public green space management. Engineering Degrees in Agricultural Technical Engineering: Grado en (Ingeniera Tcnica Agrcola) at several universities. 240 ECTS Credits over 4 years, leading to a regulated professional qualification in Engineering requiring study of a substantial amount of agricultural engineering related matters, and a deficit in study of design and social science subjects. The actual title of the Degree programme may vary substantially from one university to another. This is not a strict Landscape Architecture qualification, but a hybrid Engineering and Landscape Design Qualification.

There are generally two types of accredited Master's Degree programmes leading to qualifications specialised in the fields of Landscape: 1. Master's Degree in Landscape Architecture: Master Universitario en Paisajismo or Master Universitario en Arquitectura del Paisaje, at several Universities. Generally, for persons who hold a Bachelor's Degree in a field other than landscape architecture, and intend to become landscape architecture practitioners. 60 to 120 ECTS Credits over 1-2 years of full-time study, which may lead to a regulated professional qualification depending on the nature of the original Bachelor's Degree. Master's Degree in Landscape Studies: Master Universitario en (definition required), at several Universities. Generally, for persons who hold a Bachelor's Degree, and intend to become acquainted with areas of study related to landscape, urban design, planning, engineering, etc. 60 to 120 ECTS Credits over 1Gabino Carballo page 6

2.

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2 years of full-time study, that may lead to a regulated professional qualification depending on the nature of the original Bachelor's Degree. Prospective students should investigate the specific aims and objectives of various programs before deciding where to enrol. The first port of call for research should be the RUCT and ANECA Registries, since they record the main facts about all accredited study programs at Grado, Master Universitario and Doctorado levels in Spain. ANECA's search facility currently offers 6 results for a Paisajismo search and 38 results for Paisaje search:

3 View of ANECA search facility for "Landscape Architecture" and Landscape labelled programmes.

7. Non-accredited qualifications
Universities may offer study programmes that fall outside the scope of the RUCT and ANECA's accreditation procedures. This kind of study programme is accredited by the university offering the qualification only. Professional Association, Government Agencies, Judiciary Authorities, and Universities are under no obligation to recognize non-official qualifications in any way, and they have no academic or professional effects. The bearer is not entitled to claim to have any specific academic or professional qualifications. Universities offering non-official study programmes are legally bound to differentiate between officially approved and non-officially approved qualifications when naming of their non-official qualifications, and they usually offer these non-accredited qualifications through the University's Continuing Education Schools, Lifelong Learning Centres, and other University affiliated facilities or bodies Non-accredited qualifications will be described as "Master" on its own, "Curso", "Posgrado", "Mdulo", or by means of English language terms such as "Undergraduate" or "Graduate Level", as well as terms similar to Grado without implying accreditation. Accredited Bachelor's Degrees and Masters Degrees qualifications will always be described as "Grado" and "Master Universitario".

8. IFLA recognised Professional Education Programmes in Landscape Architecture in Spain


IFLA recognises just one Professional Education Programme in Spain: the Master's Degree of Landscape Architecture (Master en Arquitectura del Paisatge) in Barcelona. This Master is a non- official and non accredited study programme offered by the UPC School of Professional & Executive Development, which is a non-official study centre affiliated to the UPC Barcelona Tech (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya) through the UPC Foundation (FPC).

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This prestigious Master is not registered in the RUCT, it is not accredited by theCatalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya) or by ANECA, and as a continuing development study programme falls outside the official Academic and Professional Qualifications accreditation system in Spain. This Master is not to be confused with the UPC Barcelona Tech officially approved and accredited Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture (Master Universitario en Paisajismo). This affordable professional study programme is a Master Universitario and it is accredited and listed in the ANECA registry for professional Paisajismo and Paisaje qualifications with an publicly available assessment. It is a joint programme between the Architectural Faculty (ETSAB) and the Agricultural Engineering Faculty (ESAB).

4 Spanish Official University Education Legal Framework - Official university qualifications and accreditation, applicable laws and regulations.

9. ANECA Legal framework


Amendment of the organic law on universities (LOU): Law 4/2007, of April 12 Universities Organic Law 6/2001, 21 December Agreement of the Council of Ministers, of 19 July 2002 Statutes of the foundation national agency for quality assessment and accreditation. RD 1312/2007 establishing national accreditation requirements to access to university academic staff.
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RD 1393/2007, establishing the organization of university courses. RD 861/2010, amending Royal Decree 1393/2007, establishing the organization of university. RD 1614/2009, of 26 October, establishing the organization of higher studies in arts as regulated by Organic Law 2/2006, of 3 May, on Education. RD 99/2011 regulating official doctoral studies.

Gabino Carballo, Barcelona, 5th of October 2013.

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