Developing a New Framework for Integration and Teaching of Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) in Nigerian Schools of Architecture

Abstract

As a result of globalization of digital technology, intellectual discourse on what constitute the basic body of architectural knowledge to be imparted to future professionals has been on the increase. This digital revolution has brought to the fore the need to review the already overloaded architectural education curriculum of Nigerian schools of architecture to have substantial computing content. This paper seeks to propose a new framework of integrating teaching of CAAD into curriculum of schools of architecture in Nigeria. Covenant University, the best private university and the second best university in Nigeria according to the 2014 Webometrics ranking was selected for this study. Content analysis method was adopted for the purpose of this study. Best practice from a selected school of architecture was understudied and Covenant University architectural curriculum was used as a model for developing a new framework for integration and teaching of computer aided architectural design (CAAD) in schools of architecture in Nigeria. The study concludes that integration of the developed new framework into the curricula of schools of architecture in Nigeria will aid in effective teaching of CAAD and consequently lead to higher competency and global competitiveness rating of future professional graduates from the schools.

Keywords: architectural education, curriculum, CAAD, digital technology, globalization, Nigeria