That there is, consequently, public interest to ensure that architects are able to understand and to give practical expression to the needs of individuals, social groups and communities, regarding spatial planning, design organization, construction of buildings as well as conservation and enhancement of the built heritage, the protection of the natural balance and rational utilization of available resources. That, nevertheless, it is prudent to provide a common ground for future action, not only in the pedagogical methods used, but also with the aim of achieving an appropriate elevated level, by establishing criteria which permit countries, schools and professional organizations to evaluate and improve the education given to the future architects. That the increasing mobility of architects between the different countries calls for a mutual recognition or validation of individual diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualification. That the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates or other evidence of formal qualification to practise in the field of architecture has to be founded in objective criteria, guaranteeing that holders of such qualifications have received and maintain the kind of training called for in this charter. Since architecture is created in a field of tension between reason, emotion and intuition, architectural education should be regarded as the manifestation of the ability to conceptualize, co-ordinate and execute the idea of building rooted in human tradition.
Architectural education is available at universities, polytechnics and academies.
The education leading to formal qualifications and permitting professionals to practise in the field of architecture has to be guaranteed to be at university level with architecture as the main subject. The basic goal is to develop the architect as a generalist able to resolve potential contradictions between different requirements, giving form to the society s and the individual s environmental needs. Architectural students should be made critically aware of the political and financial motivations behind clients briefs and building regulations in order to foster an ethical framework for decision making within the built environment. Young architects should be encouraged to assume responsibilities as professionals within society. Educational programmes should promote architectural design which considers the cost of future maintenance, also taking into account that, unlike traditional construction methods with low maintenance materials, some contemporary, experimental and unproved industrial systems and materials require constant and expensive maintenance.