APEC

ARCHITECTS
DIATA, MEKAELA B. ǀ ARC 4106 ǀ 19-08639
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 3 : GLOBAL PRACTICE IN 21ST CENTURY
WHAT IS APEC ARCHITECT?
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, established in
1989, has become the pre-eminent economic forum in the Asia-Pacific
region. Its primary purpose is to promote sustainable economic growth,
trade and investment, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Every
year, one of APEC's 21 member economies serves as the forum host.
Thailand is APEC host for 2022, and New Zealand hosted (virtually) in
2021.

APEC aims to strengthen regional economic integration by removing

impediments to trade and investment “at the border”, enhancing supply
chain connectivity "across the border" and improving the business
environment "behind the border." The goal is to improve the operating
environment for business by cutting red tape and other barriers. APEC
also helps member economies build the institutional capacity to
implement and take advantage of the benefits of trade and investment
reform.

APEC operates on the basis of non-binding commitments and open

dialogue. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus, and
commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The APEC Secretariat
is based in Singapore and provides coordination, technical and advisory
support as well as information management, communications, and public
outreach services.
APEC ARCHITECT FRAMEWORK
An APEC Architect Project is based on a framework agreed by participating
economies. In essence, this involves:

Participating Economies

A standard for being an APEC Architect, agreed to by participating economies.

The online registration of APEC Architects, provided in sections by participating economies.

Overall governance provided by a Central Council that typically meets every two years.

Administrative Monitoring Committees within each participating economy.

Operating Manual that lays out the project rules and procedures.

A Secretariat that provides administrative services.

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES OF APEC

AUSTRALIA BRUNEI CANADA CHILE CHINA HONGKONG INDONESIA JAPAN R. OF KOREA

MALAYSIA MEXICO NEW ZEALAND PAPUA NEW GUINEA PERU PHILIPPINES RUSSIA SINGAPORE CHINESE TAIPE

The APEC is a trade agreement that currently consists of 21 countries mainly located in
Southeast Asia and East Asia.

All member states comprise a total area of 62.87 million km² and about 2.95 billion
people. This is 41.6 percent of the habitable area around the world and 38 percent of
the world population. With an economic output of 58.49 trillion US dollars annually,
THAILAND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA they represent around 60.86 percent of the global economy. The value of all exported
goods from these 21 countries was 12.78 trillion US dollars per year at last count.

Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are
undertaken on a voluntary basis. APEC has contributed to the reduction of tariffs and
other barriers to trade in the region over time, leading to the expansion of economic
growth and international trade.
REGISTRATION AS AN APEC ARCHITECT
APEC ARCHITECT REGISTRATION CRITERIA STANDARD FOR BEING AN APEC
A candidate for registration as an APEC Architect ARCHITECT
An APEC Architect is a person who is registered, licensed, or otherwise
must be currently registered / licensed or otherwise professionally recognized as an architect in a participating economy , and whose
professionally recognized as an architect in the name is enrolled on a section of the APEC Architect Register maintained by that
economy
economy that maintains the section of the APEC
Architect Register to which application for admission
is made. Participating economies have agreed to a set of requirements and standards that
must be met by an architect from any participating economy to be accepted and
recorded as an APEC Architect.
Architects must demonstrate to the appropriate
Monitoring Committee that they have completed an
accredited / recognized program of architectural The APEC Architect Criteria is based on:
A min. period of
education, fulfilled pre-registration experience A min. period of Registration, professional
requirements, have practiced for at least seven A recognized post-graduate licensing, and other practice as a
architectural practical requirements for full licensed and
years as registered / licensed architects and education experience, with professional registered architect
satisfied any additional requirements, all in specific requisites recognition with specified
requisites.
accordance with criteria determined by the Central
Council. Architects may only be enrolled on the
section of the APEC Architect Register in their home
Architect deemed by their Monitoring Committees to fulfill these requirements are
economy, unless otherwise provided by this Manual. eligible for registration as an APEC Architect.
APEC ARCHITECT APPLICATION PROCESS
Candidates for registration as an APEC Architect must apply to
the Monitoring Committee of their home economy to determine
their eligibility for enrolment on that economy’s section of the
Register. In addition to details on education, training and
professional recognition in any APEC jurisdiction, candidates will
be required to submit a report on their post registration / licensure
professional experience, outlining the categories of practice in
which it was undertaken and the level of their involvement.

APEC Architects must also agree to be bound by the code of

professional conduct of their home economy and of any
jurisdiction in which they practice.

Applications for admission to the APEC Architect Register are

dealt with in a timely manner and will not normally exceed three
months for completion. On admission to the Register, APEC
Architects are issued with a Central Council Certificate of
Registration by the home economy Monitoring Committee and an
APEC Architect Identification Card bearing the architect’s name,
name of home economy and date and currency of APEC Architect
registration. On request, Monitoring Committees also provide
relevant information to the regulatory authorities of other
participating economies for registration purposes.
APEC ARCHITECT APPLICATION PROCESS
ENTITLEMENT TO REGISTRATION
• Admission to APEC Architect Register]
• Maintaining APEC Architect Registration
• Acquired Rights

THE COMPETENCE OF AN APEC ARCHITECT

• An APEC Architect must be competent to create architectural design.
• An APEC Architect must be competent to translate a design concept into
built form.
• An APEC Architect must be competent in the practice of architecture.
APEC ECONOMIES ABBREVIATION

AUSTRALIA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM CANADA CHILE PEOPLE’S REPULIC OF CHINA HONGKONG INDONESIA JAPAN REPUBLIC OF KOREA

AU BRD CA CL CN HK ID JP KR

MALAYSIA MEXICO NEW ZEALAND PAPUA NEW GUINEA PERU PHILIPPINES RUSSIA SINGAPORE CHINESE TAIPE

MY MX NZL PNG PER PHL RUS SG CT

THAILAND UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TH US
CENTRAL COUNCIL & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Central Council has ultimate responsibility for all matters relating to the APEC
Architect framework. The Council comprises at least one representative of each
Monitoring Committee. The Council is responsible for authorizing Monitoring
Committees to maintain their sections of the Register. Typically the Council meets
every two years.

A decision to permit an economy to join the project rests with the Central Council.

The Central Council’s decision are generally reached by consensus and are not
binding on the regulatory authorities of participating economies.

The APEC Architect Central Council will operate for so long as it is acceptable and
desirable to participating economies.
CENTRAL COUNCIL & RESPONSIBILITIES
MAINTENANCE OF THE APEC ARCHITECT REGISTER
•Determine standards and assessment procedures for admission, renewal and termination of the registration of
an APEC Architect;
•Oversee and coordinate all sections of the Register operated by independent Monitoring Committees,
•Maintain the APEC Architect website;
•Establish and apply governance systems and quality assurance strategies to review and maintain uniformity and
compliance with agreed criteria.

ESTABLISHMENT OF MONITORING COMMITTEES

•Determine policy concerning the composition, authorization and responsibilities of Monitoring Committees;
•Assess applications for authorization of Monitoring Committees to operate a section of the APEC Architect
Register, and to hear appeals;
•Conduct reviews of registration systems and standards in authorized participating economies to ensure
continued compliance;
CENTRAL COUNCIL & RESPONSIBILITIES
OVERSIGHT OF THE RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION FRAMEWORK
•Review the commitment of participating economies to the nominated categories of
registration / certification requirements that they are prepared to offer APEC Architects
from other economies;
•Ensure that the reciprocal commitments recorded on websites are accurate and
current.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE APEC ARCHITECT PROJECT

•Make provision for a Secretariat to administer the business of Council, maintain
records and coordinate with Monitoring Committees;
•Act as a communications center to provide information, documentation and advice on
all aspects of the project.
MONITORING COMMITTEE & RESPONSIBILITIES
As part of the APEC Architect Framework, monitoring committees carry out administrative functions for the project within participating
economies. Monitoring committees do this on the basis of delegated authority from the APEC Architect Project Central Council.

MONITORING COMMITTEES DO THE FOLLOWING:

•Undertake assessments to determine whether applicants meet the required standard and therefore shall be admitted to the Register as APEC
Architects
•Operate the APEC Architect Register within each economy
•Where appropriate, facilitate with relevant registration authorities bilateral or multilateral arrangements to allow APEC Architects to seek registration in
other participating host economies
•Contribute to the APEC Architect Project as a whole via Central Council
•Make public information about the APEC Architect Project.

ASSESSMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR REGISTRATION

For an Architect to be admitted to the APEC Architect Register, the monitoring committee in the economy where the architect
resides must:
•Authenticate the applicant's architectural education and practical experience and certify it as satisfying the APEC Architect criteria
•Evaluate the seven-year period of professional experience as a registered / licensed practitioner required in order to be an APEC
Architect.
MONITORING COMMITTEE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Monitoring committees also have a duty to confirm that their APEC Architects continue to be registered / licensed as architects in their
home economies. In addition, monitoring committees must advise Central Council if the standards of architectural education in their
home economies changes in such a way as to be materially at odds with the APEC Architect standard.

APEC ARCHITECT REGISTER

•The central duty of each monitoring committee is to establish and maintain its section of the online APEC Architect Register. Each section records the
APEC Architects in that economy. Once an architect qualifies as an APEC Architect his or her name is recorded on the register.

BILATERALS
Monitoring committees are empowered to facilitate voluntary arrangements between participating economies that allow for fast-track cross border
registrations / licensing of APEC Architects. These arrangements have to be made by the registration / licensing authorities of participating economies.

CONTRIBUTE TO CENTRAL COUNCIL

Monitoring committees are the constituent bodies of the APEC Architect Central Council. Each monitoring committee nominates at least one
representative to the APEC Architect Central Council, although there is no restriction on the number of members they appoint. It is expected that
representatives will be able to speak on behalf of the regulatory authority in their economy. Each monitoring committee is entitled to one vote on the
Central Council.
MONITORING COMMITTEE & RESPONSIBILITIES
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
At six monthly intervals monitoring committees are expected to complete a Council Report on their APEC Architect registration activities and any other
significant developments during the period, for circulation to all participating economies. Monitoring committees also promote the benefits of registration
as an APEC Architect to members of the profession and to regulatory authorities and other relevant organizations.

APPLICATION FOR AUTHORISATION

An APEC economy seeking to operate a section of the APEC Architect Register must first constitute a monitoring committee to submit an application to
the APEC Architect Central Council, through the Secretariat, for authorization to do so.

In determining whether or not authorization will be granted, the Central Council will require advice on:

•The professional recognition criteria and assessment systems in place in the economy
•Education and practical experience / training requirements for registration / licensure as an architect in the economy
•The accreditation / recognition procedures employed to assess registration applicants
•The procedures and quality assurance provisions used to assess compliance with the required professional practice experience as a registered /
licensed architect.
•The composition of the Monitoring Committee
•How the Monitoring Committee will manage its section of the APEC Architect Register
•The resources available for undertaking these responsibilities.

In economies with multiple domestic jurisdictions, where applicable, the professional standards and criteria established by national organizations acting
as councils of individual regulatory authorities shall be evaluated for the authorization of monitoring committees.