Introduction
Welcome to the second edition of the RIBA’s international newsletter.
Annual Report 2008
2008 has been a very busy year for the Institute from an international perspective, with the RIBA concentrating on providing a better support network for our overseas members.
We would like to invite overseas members to get involved in the new ‘Knowledge Communities’ as they develop in 2009, since the aim is to achieve a beneficial exchange – members accessing knowledge of value to them, and the Institute’s collective knowledge and policies being informed by members working in different countries and climates around the world.
Member support
In response to feedback from the last member’s survey, we are expanding our international network, and establishing new RIBA Chapters in the Gulf, Singapore and Hong Kong, in addition to our US Chapters. We are also developing a network of ‘RIBA Ambassadors’, who will act as points of liaison in countries where a Chapter has yet to be established.
Member services/export issues
While the current economic downturn is a global issue, some countries appear to be ‘bucking the trend’, and there is considerable member interest in emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Russia, and the UAE. Our booklet ‘Working Internationally’ gives general advice and useful information for those who are considering practising overseas. Our Client Services team recently took a group of Chartered Practices to the Cityscape convention in Dubai, and our Sport & Leisure Client Forum organised a seminar on finding work in the international sporting construction sector.
Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE)
We are currently monitoring Directives which have a legislative impact on us in the UK. The ‘Qualifications’ Directive has now been implemented in the UK, allowing for the free movement of architects and mutual recognition of qualifications across the EU. The UK is planning to implement the ‘Services in the Internal Market’ Directive by the end of 2009, giving service providers a single point of contact for dealing with bureaucratic formalities and for obtaining information relating to employment, tax status etc.
We will soon be producing a lobbying document for the European Parliament elections, which will campaign for a reduction in VAT on construction work, and changes to procurement legislation.
Trade in Services
with the collapse of the multi-lateral approach of the Doha Round, bi-lateral agreements became all the more important. The Architectural Services Agreement (ARA) with Mexico will be ratified shortly by the EU and will soon be notified to the Joint Council overseeing the EU-Mexico Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations have started with the Republic of Korea, with the aim of developing an ARA to be appended to its Free Trade Agreement with the EU.
International Union of Architects (UIA)
The RIBA is busy developing the UIA’s international validation system. A RIBA-UIA team is in China and Japan this month, with a visit to Egypt scheduled for the New Year. We are also working on a UIA CPD system, addressing the CPD needs of overseas members.
Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA)
The CAA is developing a partnering project to facilitate joint ventures for architects wishing to work in other parts of the Commonwealth.
For further information on RIBA’s international work, contact Ian Pritchard: ian.pritchard@inst.riba.org|