Academic Cooperation between Lviv Polytechnic University and TU Wien. Annual Program 2024-25

The two schools of architecture of L’vivska Polytechnic and Vienna University of Technology are cooperating in applying different methods in teaching and research. The key aspects of the cooperation relate primarily to current questions in city development and urban design, the dealing with historic urban structures, aspects of communication in architecture as well as the application of modern timber construction technologies. 

The focus points in the content of the cooperation have been derived from the general framework conditions of the cooperation: from the joint interests of both schools of architecture, from the specific characteristics of the cities of Vienna and Lviv as well as from the skills and primary areas of work of the persons involved. The importance of the cooperation moreover is to set an innovative course for the Austrian-Ukrainian collaboration in the field of university cooperations beyond the above-mentioned key aspects.

 Aims

As overall aims of the cooperation the following aspects can be named according to their relevance for teaching and research:

• Exchange and development of knowledge, skills and didactics in the field of architectural education on the level of student and lecturer (teaching and research)

• Application of the content of teaching and examination of its suitability for practical life by means of joint project work (applied teaching and research)

• Research of contemporary phenomena in architecture and urban development in a bilateral or an multilateral collaboration (research)

• Preparation of the students for current and future occupational fields in architecture and urban planning, especially in the Central and Eastern European context (teaching)

 Methods

Several methods are used for research, teaching and academic mobility in the context of our academic cooperation. One methodological approach focusses on cooperation through joint project work, the so-called ‘Urban Density Lab’. The focus here is on the elaboration of urban development scenarios for Ukrainian / Austrian cities and municipalities. Other joint projects deal with the documentation of historically significant cultural monuments in Lviv as well as scenarios for reconstruction after a possible end to the Russian war of aggression. In addition to joint research and publication projects, guest research stays by Ukrainian academics in Vienna also emphasise the cooperation.

 The financial support for our cooperation from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science, Education and Research enables us to carefully plan our academic activities as part of an annual program.