Investigating the Changes in the Globalization of Higher Education in the Architecture Education and Judging Architectural Designs in Iranian Universities

Higher education is influenced by globalization having a profound effect on all levels and dimensions of higher education. Judging architectural designs is one of the current issues in higher education. Criteria that can be used to measure designs are old concerns in the field of architecture. By knowing how to judge architectural projects in the world's leading universities, it is possible to quantitatively and qualitatively develop higher education in architecture. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the effects of globalization of higher education on education and judging architectural projects. The research method was mixed (quantitative-qualitative). Data was collected using the method of classification and arrangement of documents, after which their content was analyzed and propositions that represent the educational and judgmental characteristics of the world university were extracted. In order to get acquainted with the methods of judging architectural designs in Iranian universities, the Delphi technique was used. Data was collected through questionnaires and open interviews with professors of architecture at the departments of Architecture at prominent Iranian universities. The findings showed that the effects of globalization on the teaching and judging of architectural designs can be divided into two categories of indicators related to the design process, which included curriculum, students, faculty members, international cooperation, budget, and new electronic communication systems. Criteria for final evaluation included jury, student defense, presentation, and analysis of information. The results showed that the globalization of architectural project judging will lead to intensification of university competitions, upgrading of educational standards, improvement in the quality of education and judging of architectural projects.