Habitat Professionals Forum Session on "Governance - People - Professionals" at the UIA Congress in Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey 3-7 July 2005

As part of the tremendous activities and sessions of UIA World Congress (International Union of Architects) in Istanbul - more than 6,000 delegates - the Habitat Professionals Forum (HPF) had an own session on the very topical theme “Governance – People – Professionals” under the chair of the FIG President Holger Magel, who is the current chair of Steering Committee of the HPF. The panellists Lars Reutersward (UN-Habitat), Holger Magel, Aydan Erim (UIA) and Selman Erguden (UN-Habitat) discussed the changed roles of planners and architects as professionals in a changed world of increasing civil society, good governance principles and citizens who ask for more participation.

As an clear outcome it was said that more than ever professionals must be able to match these new challenges. Universities have to teach very early modern methods, instruments and skills in informal planning, moderation, mediation and even conflict management.

First of all they should start to deliver this message: The citizen is an expert too regarding his experiences and knowledge about his home. The only one what should be done: he has to be trained in the “language” and inter-linkages of planning!

President Magel making the conclusions of the HPF Session in Istanbul.

Following you can find the presentation of the session.

• Introduction - Civil Society and Good Governance: How does the growing role of citizens impact on the urban planning process and the role of architects and planners? - Prof. Holger Magel, President of FIG and Chair of the Steering Committee of the Habitat Professionals Forum
• UN-HABITAT Urban Policies and Operations - Dr. Lars Reutersward, Director of the Global Division of the UN-Habitat and Responsible for the 3rd World Urban Forum in Vancouver in June 2006
• About the need of centres of capacity building in urban and rural development - Prof. Holger Magel, President of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) and the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Habitat Professionals Forum
• Presentation - Mrs. Aydan Erim, Architect, Representative of the International Union of Architects (UIA) and the Turkish Chamber of Architects
• Summary of the Statement - Mr. Selman Ergyden, Urban Planner, Chief of Housing Policy and Development Section of the UN-Habitat and Coordinator of the UN Housing Rights Programme
• Conclusion - Prof. Holger Magel, Chair of the Steering Committee of the Habitat Professionals Forum