Network Meetings
The Cirrus Network runs administrative and strategic meetings every year. These address practical issues as well as being moments to meet to discuss changes in the field and other issues and how the schools respond.
Meetings of Heads of Schools.
The meeting of the heads of schools plus secretariat meets every autumn. There, strategic planning of the network is developed and all basic decisions are made. The strategic role of design in the region and in design education are the main preoccupations of the rectors. In the meeting of rectors, innovation and best practice models are communicated. Usually one thematic subject is also lifted and promoted for future design development. The human factor is very important in these meetings, since the network is small enough to be able to generate a common goal for the member institutional leaders. The meeting of rectors is led by the leader of Cirrus. The meeting will select the steering committee for the coming year.
Meetings of Coordinators
The meeting of coordinators happens every autumn in the early phase of each academic year. The coordinators go through benchmarking methods, develop new solutions for better practice in exchange activities and communication between the member institutions and with other networks, like Kuno, Cumulus, Nordisk Arkitektur Akademy, Erasmus and so forth. Many of the coordinators are also coordinators for these other activities.
The meeting addresses all practical matters for exchange activities for students, teachers, researchers and the planning of intensive programs. It is very important for the coordinators to have time to go through the everyday activity together. The coordinators also plan intensive projects and conferences that are held within the network. These activities are fundamental in developing best practice in the network. Benchmarking, curriculum development, common courses, common master courses, design strategy for the region, innovation and research are the main themes of the intensive programs. All of these need cooperation outside the local traditional classroom.
The coordinators have then the role locally to promote these Cirrus activities to their home institutions in their daily work.
Steering Board
With increased activity and because of requrements of more independence in decision making requred by the funding program, it is proposed to set up a steering board for all major decisions. This will be put forward in the next autumn rector’s meeting.
