Academics

• I Year
• II Year
• III Year
• IV Year
• V Year

Pedagogy of Fifth Year

Sem IX

The ninth semester of the course is dedicated to “Practical Training” in which students work in professional offices of architects to get experience of working on real life architectural projects. Our institute has evolved the following policy for sending students on Practical Training and the same is implemented rigorously.

1. The student shall not work in offices which are situated either in his/her home state or in Maharashtra. The student must work out of the comfort zone and experience different cultures, food, language etc.
2. The student shall work for six continuous months and shall not take any holidays for personal reasons. This period shall be dedicated to attending to office work only to absorb the professional ethos of the office.
3. The student shall also explore the architectural character of the place of work.
4. The student shall prepare an A3 size portfolio of the drawings/documents of the work done by him/her during the training period, with full consent and authentication by the principal architect, strictly as per the format given by the institution and submit the same to the college for record.
5. Regular reporting by the office regarding the student’s progress is expected along with a confidential report at the end of the training period.

Before applying for the Practical Training Placements, the students are briefed about their roles and responsibilities in a session organized at the end of the eighth semester by the faculty team. The briefing includes how to apply in a professional way, how to accept the placements, expected documentation during the training period etc. thus preparing them for the rigorous training period.

This policy has resulted in students working in reputed architectural firms across India and in other countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Indonesia, South America etc. The college maintains a detailed record of the professional offices where students have worked and also of the portfolio of the drawings submitted by the students. This professional work is available in the library strictly for reference purposes only safeguarding the copyrights and confidentiality of the professional work.

The students also share their work experience with the juniors later in the college during a day-long programme “Gol-Gappe” organized on the occasion of Republic Day celebrations on 26th January.

Sem X

Architectural Thesis is an enquiry, study, investigation, and research into any one or more areas of concern/interest, which the student is given the liberty to choose from. The detailed study and understanding of area of concern/interest leads to an appropriate architectural idea and its program for the thesis project. The entire study is expected to be articulated into an Architectural Design Project. The student may choose the area of concern, based on his/her potential and ability, any topic from THREE major fields which have been identified as 1) IDEAS 2) SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES and 3) BUILDING TYPES. Architectural thesis gives an opportunity to articulate idea/enquiry and adds a new perspective to it. Thereby students formulate a research question or thesis statement and collect data & information to support the thesis. Based upon the theoretical and empirical knowledge, appropriate research methods, and methods for analyzing data students arrive at a rational conclusion with a design demonstration.

We at PVPCOA encourage students to take up projects in PUBLIC DOMAIN, LIVE SITUATION and SOCIAL CONTEXT. It has been observed that many times the projects have substantial potential of being realized and executed in due course of time. To support evolved policies/line of action for such a project PVP COA team is always informed and involved in deliberations and discussions.

PVPCOA issues THESIS HANDBOOK to the students that provides an overview of stages, submissions, and assessment criteria for carrying out thesis work and a THESIS PLANNER that contains a schedule for thesis along with record sheets for students and guides, which need to filled up by them for progressive assessment and follow up. It is designed as a diary for thesis students to record their observations, diagrams, remarks, and comments from their respective guides, FTF members, VF members, experts from the field, clients, users, etc.

A. Aim

Thesis aims at encouraging exploration into Ideas, Social-Environmental-Historical issues and Building Types that together make architecture and built environment. The study is expected to be original work, methodically pursued thereby exposing students to the seriousness of investigation into understanding interconnected complex issues in the chosen area of research. The entire endeavor is expected to pave the way into the future and to have specialized studies at higher levels, as well as the profession.

B. Objective

1. To comprehend the ideas, the path of investigation and exploration and manifesting them in the form of architecture.
2. To realize that the philosophical - social - political - economic - cultural - historical - environmental - scientific - technological - engineering issues need to be seen together as a whole phenomenal reality that creates a ground and consciousness for architecture and allied disciplines.
3. To imbibe the culture of researching for developing one’s own methodology for practicing architecture.

C. Methodology of conducting the Thesis Studio at PVPCOA

• The preliminary introduction of Thesis studio is done in the month of January for students of 3rd year B. Arch. along with the introduction of Dissertation, explaining the broad scope of thesis and its linkage with dissertation.
• The detailed introduction of the thesis is given to the students of 4th year B.Arch.
• The probable area of interest/concern to be finalized and probable architectural program to be discussed with thesis team by the students of 4th B. Arch, before embarking for Practical Training.
• Thesis work done during Practical training* (Semester IX) must be brought on the first day of the Workshop: Wake Up & Speed Up Studio in the month of December. *During the practical training full concentration and commitment must be shown for the assigned work in the office. Simultaneously base work for Thesis must be carried out without hampering the office commitments.
• The thesis in Semester X will be carried out like a Design studio along with a Thesis faculty team.
• Students would explore non-linear modes of design process where they would “VISIT” and “RE - VISIT” the required referral study as and when they discover the need in the process of designing. It is mandatory that most of the inquiry with respect to referral study should be completed by the end of December.
• The thesis work will culminate with the UOP thesis examination followed by the EXIT exhibition to be held in the City at the end of April 2020. Participation in EXIT Exhibition is COMPULSORY for every student and the same will exhibit the student’s work from first to fifth year as per stipulated format.
• The EXIT exhibition will showcase the work of the entire batch thereby generating a window to interact with citizens, professionals from the construction industry and allied fields. This would increase the reach of students’ projects and potential and encourages employment opportunities to recent graduates.

An effective thesis should generally answer the “how”, “why” and “so what”. It should be a statement that represents an argument. It should be one’s perspective often the result of simple, elegant ideas of sufficient intellectual depth.