As part of the Erasmus Days week, the University of Liechtenstein, in collaboration with the Agency for International Educational Affairs (AIBA), hosted an inspiring event on 17 October 2024 dedicated entirely to international educational cooperation.

The Erasmus Day at the University of Liechtenstein began with two opening speeches: Dr. Christian Frommelt, Rector of the University of Liechtenstein, and Dr. Stefan Sohler, Head of the Agency for International Educational Affairs, both emphasized the outstanding importance of the Erasmus+ programme for Liechtenstein. They particularly highlighted the fruitful collaboration between the university and AIBA, which enables students and researchers to access valuable international exchange opportunities.

One of the highlights of the day was the presentation of ten projects that showcased a wide range of diverse and innovative ideas. The projects clearly demonstrated the breadth and potential of the Erasmus+ programme.

Around 50 participants attended the event, which featured both informative contributions and a convivial networking opportunity during the closing reception. Numerous stimulating conversations revealed a strong interest in further cooperation and new project ideas – perhaps even laying the groundwork for the next Erasmus initiatives.

Overall, the event was a great success, underscoring the crucial role that the Erasmus+ programme plays for Liechtenstein. We already look forward to next year’s Erasmus Days and are excited about the future projects that will emerge.

Since September 1, 2024, the two young architects Timothy Allen and Ronan Crippa have been enriching the team at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture as practical lecturers in the Foundation Studio of the Bachelor’s programme in Architecture.

Both rooted in the Rhine Valley, they not only run their architecture firm in Grabs but are also actively committed to promoting architectural culture in their home region. With passion, they dedicate themselves to topics such as renovation and reuse, ecology and CO2 reduction, as well as sensitive urban development – with a focus on construction, atmosphere, and cultural engagement in architecture.

Their approach? They love to experiment with materials and construction, always in search of new ways to make architecture vibrant and sustainable. It is no surprise that they are already gaining considerable attention in the architectural world: In September 2024, Allen + Crippa were awarded the “Wild Card #7” by the magazine Hochparterre, a renowned competition for architects under the age of 40. This award secures them a place in the selective competition for the Spichermatt housing estate by Logis Suisse AG in Stans – an important milestone on their exciting journey.

We are delighted to welcome these two innovative minds to the University of Liechtenstein and look forward to the impulses they will bring to teaching and practice!

The Liechtenstein School of Architecture (LSA) first obtained RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) validation for its Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programme in 2018. Now, the LSA has reaffirmed its excellence with a highly successful re-validation in 2024.

The Liechtenstein School of Architecture remains one of the few institutions worldwide to have earned RIBA validation at all programme levels. 

RIBA evaluates architecture schools worldwide, and its validation is regarded as a mark of quality and a quality assurance instrument. It also serves as an opportunity for self-reflection and the critical examination of ongoing processes.  

On-site Programme Evaluation 

The RIBA reviewers are professors from leading architecture schools in the United Kingdom. In June of this year, a team of six reviewers, along with representatives from the RIBA agency, visited the University of Liechtenstein for a two-day comprehensive evaluation of the architecture programmes. In addition to detailed documentation, the reviewers assessed students' final projects, models, portfolios, and the doctoral theses from the research groups.  

Enthusiastic about the programme and the school  

In their final report, the RIBA reviewers expressed enthusiasm for the Liechtenstein School of Architecture. They described it as a uniquely inspiring environment that offers students an outstanding educational experience and praised the self-reflective quality strategy that culminates in the new curriculum. The revised curriculum (starting date in September 2024) was also critically examined and deemed highly forward-looking, addressing the relevant challenges of sustainable architecture practice and excellently integrating theory and practice. 

“The Liechtenstein School of Architecture may be small, but its quality and approach are on par with the best,” emphasized the RIBA reviewers.  

A Seal of Quality at an International Level 

The Dean of the School of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Daniel Stockhammer, explains: “The RIBA validation confirms the high quality of our architecture programmes based on international criteria. We are proud to receive such positive feedback from the expert panel six years after the initial validation.” 

Moreover, architecture students at the University of Liechtenstein benefit from the RIBA validation, as they can obtain the designation RIBA Part 1 for the Bachelor's degree and RIBA Part 2 for the Master's degree in addition to their qualifications. This gives them a significant advantage in entering the job market and gaining recognition for their degrees from other architecture schools across Europe and globally. 
 

As part of the initiative "Traffic Signs of Justice", the University of Liechtenstein hosted a series of lectures and a standing lunch on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.

In collaboration with Benjamin Kuchelmair, an alumnus of the University of Liechtenstein, the sign “War is a dead end” was acquired, officially unveiled, and inaugurated. Kuchelmair explained: “Just like in road traffic, some paths inevitably lead to a dead end with no way forward. Let us seize the opportunity together to make a U-turn and decisively take the path of peace through cooperation, rather than remaining alone in a dead end.”

Dr. Christian Frommelt, Rector of the University, examined the topic of war from a political science perspective: “The 'Democratic Peace' – the insight that democracies do not go to war with one another – is regarded as the only empirical law in the otherwise unpredictable realm of international relations. It is therefore crucial to protect democracies and support institutions that promote democracy.”

The designs for the "Traffic Signs of Justice" were created by artist Johannes Volkmann together with children and youth from nine different countries. The signs were produced in large numbers to be featured in artistic projects across Europe. They are intended to highlight the values of our open and free society.

Initiated by Gaudenz Ambühl, the “Liechtenstein Concept” was developed to enable broad involvement of all interested initiatives and institutions throughout the country. The goal is to establish the “Traffic Signs of Justice” as permanent installations in public places such as town halls, schools, businesses, or churches across Liechtenstein, embedding them sustainably in the public consciousness. The sign “War is a dead end” will have a permanent location on the campus of the University of Liechtenstein.

The Liechtenstein School of Architecture (LSA) hosted the first Earth Hub Symposium on October 11, 2024. The event brought together representatives from architecture, research and the regional economy. The aim was to showcase innovations in clay-wood construction and to explore the technical, economic and social potential of ecological building materials.

“We produced 800 ceiling elements made of rammed earth and wood directly in a field factory at the HORTUS construction site in Basel”, explains Martin Rauch, the earth building pioneer from Schlins, who regularly lectures at the University of Liechtenstein. “In this project, the architects Herzog and de Meuron did something unusual: they brought all the innovators together at the beginning.” The task was to create a zero-energy building that would itself become a power plant. In three decades, the office complex should have compensated for the energy that is currently being used for construction. Said, planned, done. The flagship site in Basel will be ready for occupancy in mid-2025.

“With HORTUS, we have noticed how naturally we combine research, development and practical construction here in the region”, says Martin Mackowitz from the team led by Martin Rauch, who has also been teaching at the University of Liechtenstein for ten years. In view of the climate targets, this approach is proving to be an enormous advantage for the location.

Earth Hub opened at symposium

Mackowitz hosted a symposium to open the Earth Hub in order to raise the potential of ecological building materials in the long term and in collaboration with business and society. Around 40 international guests from the worlds of business, research and construction exchanged ideas on Friday at the University of Liechtenstein and during an excursion. They included Regina Steck, Lenum, Karin Jehle, Amt für Umwelt, Constantin Frommelt, Zimmerei Frommelt, and Flurina Seger, Stiftung Lebenswertes Liechtenstein.

Herbert Zech, Managing Director of RTB Rheintal Baustoffe in Bendern, explains: “I grew up with building materials. That's why I'm interested in the innovations that our colleagues from the university are exploring with us in the field of construction. Martin Rauch and Martin Mackowitz have shown me that excavated material doesn't have to be waste. Instead, it is a valuable raw material for ultra-modern buildings made of rammed earth! A considerable amount of the soil beneath our feet in Liechtenstein can be used for this sustainable way of building. And at the same time keep the volume of excavated landfill within limits.” When excavating a building pit, material can be recovered that can be put to good use locally, perhaps even for the same construction project, Zech emphasizes.

The new Earth Hub at the Liechtenstein School of Architecture aims to advance research and practice in climate-friendly construction in an interdisciplinary manner over the next few years. The aim is to take knowledge from the ivory tower out into the four-country region and Europe: “We are united by our enthusiasm for technical innovation and for our precious natural environment”, says Martin Mackowitz, coordinator of the new Earth Hub at the University of Liechtenstein.

The annual workshop of the European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS) network took place in Viterbo (IT) from September 23 to 25, 2024. The host was Prof. Alessio Maria Braccini.

As part of the annual meeting of the members of the ERCIS network, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Benjamin van Giffen, Professor of Information Systems and Digital Innovation, spoke about the initiation of a dialog and exchange of experience between the ERCIS partners on the development of innovative teaching formats at the interface of human and artificial/digital innovation. The aim is to establish international cooperation formats with the aim of further developing and adapting socially widely available approaches for teaching human-centered design methods and processes, in particular design thinking, for the generation of digital innovations, especially AI-based digital innovations.

The European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS) network is a dynamic international cooperation of research institutions and companies in the field of information systems. The members of the ERCIS network meet once a year at one of the partner institutions to discuss current topics, introduce new members and plan joint research or teaching activities. The network includes scientists, company representatives and partners from more than 25 countries, which provides the opportunity to address current challenges on the path to a digital Europe from a multidisciplinary and international perspective. The ERCIS network is led by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jörg Becker (University of Münster) and Prof. Dr. Jan vom Brocke (University of Münster and visiting professor at the University of Liechtenstein).

https://www.ercis.org