Student Expert Group in Barcelona

A group of students of the Department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design of the German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech) will participate in the annual convention of the European Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) project called “Student Expert Group” in Barcelona (Spain) this week. “We are the first group in the Middle East to participate in the four-day event. I am sure, our students will be proud GUtech Ambassadors,” said Professor Aurel von Richthofen of the Department of Urban Planning and Architectural Design of GUtech. The four-day event will feature intense workshops by the best lecturers in their field of CAAD and networking with fellow students. Prior to the convention, the group will visit Barcelona for three days and study its rich architectural and urban heritage. The 'Student Expert Group' is a project initiated by the Chair of CAAD at GUtech’s parent-university, RWTH Aachen University in Germany, and a leading CAAD company, Autodesk. In this virtual group students connect through a portal to a community of other students of top universities in Europe. “At the beginning of this academic year eight students were selected, based on their advanced standing in CAAD. The students have raised the money for the trip by themselves with sponsoring,” said Professor Aurel. GUtech is leading the 'Student Expert Group' in Oman. 'Student Experts at GUtech' meet once a week on a voluntary basis and work on advanced topics of CAAD, such as parametric modelling, Arabic patterns and geometry, sustainable design in extreme climates and urbanisation on the Arabian Peninsula. GUtech offers a four-year BSc programme in Urban Planning and Architectural Design (UPAD) and a three-year Master’s degree in Integrated Urban Planning. Both programmes are taught in English and by international experienced academic staff.