Presentation of Swiss Research Partnership Projects
Swiss Universities for Applied Sciences and Swisscontact
A development promotion program backed by SDC
Exchange programme HTA-Burgdorf/ University Enugu Campus Nigeria
Partners:
University of Nigeria, Nsukka- Nigeria
Faculty of Environment Studies
University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus
Department of Architecture (Exchange Programme Base Department)
University of Applied Sciences, Berne- Switzerland
Burgdorf School of Engineering
Department of Architecture
Responsible of Exchange Project:
Prof. Heinz Kurth, dipl. Arch. ETH SIA BSA
heinz.kurth@hta-bu.bfh.ch
Exchange programme / collaborative research project Switzerland- Nigeria
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| Phase 1: |
August – October 2002 Training of two Nigerian professors in CAD / System AUTOCAD at HSB. Support with software as well as hardware as far as possible. |
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| Phase 2: |
August 2003 – February 2004 Two Swiss postgraduate students absolve the following programme at the UNEC:
The both lives 6 months in Nigeria together with students and professors and get an impression of Nigerian culture and life. |
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| Foto |  The staffs of Enugu and Burgdorf during a visit of the Swiss partners at the UNEC 2001. |
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Phase 3: |
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| Purpose / Research Objectives |
Both University partners agree on a joint collaboration in the area of urbain design, especially in urban regeneration in the form of a case study of city layout in New Haven Enugu Metropolis. The main aims of the research are as follows:
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Procedure and Time table: |
The research programme is devided into 3 phases: |
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| Result: | The final result of the research will be produced in form of a documentation. It will be helpful for fundraising and promotion purpose. The aim is the condrete self- help realisation in a quarter of New Haven Enugu. | |
| Budget: (Swiss partner) |
Phase 1 + 2: Sfr. 70’000.- : contribution by swisscontact: sFr. 15’000.- |
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| Foto |  View of New Haven in Enugu 2004 |
Summary of the first phase
The agreement of June 24, 2002 and August 30, 2002, stipulates an exchange program between the University Enugu Campus and the Burgdorf School of Engineering. This agreement defines two phases. The first involves instruction for CAD from August 15, 2002, to October 21, 2002 for two professors of Nigerian nationality at the Burgdorf School of Engineering. During the second phase two post-graduate students of the Burgdorf School of Engineering will have training in tropical construction at the University of Enugu. The first phase came to a successful end on October 21, 2002.
Prof. Albin Zellweger instructed Prof. Dr. C.B. Chukwuali and Prof. Bennett Nnoruka in CAD. This course started on August 19, 2002 and ended on October 18, 2002.
The aim of the course was the attainment of the principal Auto Cad Architectural Desktop (CAD)-competencies. The knowledge in computer science of Prof. Chukwuali and Prof. Bennett varied. At the onset both were introduced to special school electronic data-processing with Windows NT 4.0. On the basis of specific tasks they could enter step by step into the object-oriented world of vector-graphic. On the principles of the 2D-tools, the layer organization and the project organization the model of the tri-dimensional building with all its possible components was developed. The complexities of the program logic and the infinite possibilities of the online allowed them to become acquainted with a great part of the program structure and to use it as required. Both professors worked six to nine hours a day during the week. This enabled them to create an important number of small single objects and a complete model of a residential building. At the end of their training period at the Burgdorf School of Engineering the two professors departed for Enugu, where they arrived safely on October 22, 2002, with their acquired knowledge and with all the necessary manuals for teaching. Soon after his return to Nigeria, Prof. Bennett Nnoruka died on November 10, 2002, because of pneumonia. Notwithstanding this tragic event, the partners will continue with the successful exchange program.
On the basis of his training, Prof. Dr. C.B. Chukwuali is competent to start with some of his colleagues the training for CAD. This transitional solution and didactic preparation will help meet these particular circumstances until autumn 2003, when the courses start for the students for the first time. We are sure that Prof. Chukwuali will spare no effort to be successful, and besides, the assistance by the two students from Switzerland is assured.
In addition to the professional education, excursions were organized for Prof. Chukwuali and Nnoruka which gave them a general idea of the architecture and construction techniques of Switzerland. We mention the visits to the other Universities of applied sciences, to completed construction and building sites in the German and Italian part of Switzerland, as well as visits to the Expo and to the traditional buildings on the Ballenberg (open-air museum). They were at all times impressed by the beautiful regions, by good infra-structure, by clean water and the perfect architecture.
Profs. Chukwuali and Nnoruka’s stay in Switzerland meant for the participants in the program, not only effort but also successful teamwork and great human enrichment.
Burgdorf, November 21 2002
Heinz Kurth
Professor HTA Burgdorf
MY IMPRESSIONS OF NIGERIA
In Nigeria we met a Swiss who has been living and working in Nigeria for 20 years. A few years ago in Lagos he was attacked and robbed in his car by armed gangsters. Eventually they left him at a petrol station and drove away with his car. An old Nigerian who was sitting there asked him, why he is travelling alone at this dangerous time. The Swiss answered that he was mugged and he had lost his valuables and his car. And the old man exclaimed : „O
h, this Nigeria!“
My impression are similar to the old mans. Nigeria was once a paradise in Africa. The economy, agriculture and the infrastructure were in an exellent state. The people had work and a good living standard. Today it is a rarity, corruption, violence, poverty and the bad economy, the old and non-functioning infrastructure mirrows the tough daily life. The formar paradise has fallen to a deep hole. For an outsider like me it is an understandable cry. „Oh, this Nigeria!“
The positive side, the warmth of the natives is like a ray of sunshine in the blue sky warming the countryside. They are simple, charming and helpful. Although the daily life is a struggle, an Nigerian told me – we are suffering but with a smile! The people go about their business with a joyful attitude. It was a wonderful experience living among these people. In the Mount Carmelite Prayer Centre with the seminars and the priests and outside in the town with the students of the university and the locals. We were well received and we made many good friends on the dark continent. We visited many native villages in the deep bush using puplic transports. On these journeys and in our daily life we had many impressionable and unforgettable experiences. Every day was a surprise but not one was negative. „Oh, this Nigeria! How wonderful you can be!“
I can long sing the praises of Nigerians and relate stories of our adventures. The people are friendly and hospitable but given the oppurtunity they not adverse to a scam or to take advantage of a friendship. One can not blaime them too much, I would probably do the same living in those conditions. Goods cost for whites 3-4 times more than for locals. In time one learns to bargain to the normal price and to recognize the swindlers. The people are always polite and friendly and in a certain way honest. Eg: A market trader asks his fantasy price with a grin on his face.
My stay was a rollercoaster feeling – ups and downs. Sometimes perfection and then chaos. One day happy to be there and the next day wishing to go home. At the beginning the feelings were more confusing. I had a lot of new impressions and informations to absorb. I compared Nigeria with Switzerland or Europe till I realized that Nigeria can not be compared. Nigeria is complex, a functioning chaos, rich and poor, good and evil, hope and futility, ...
Nigeria is full of controversies and maybe this is the reason why this country has touched my heart. I will definitly visit Nigeria again. „Oh, this Nigeria!“
Many thanks to the organisation to have made it possible.
Written by Michel Wittwer
MY IMPRESSIONS OF NIGERIA
Basically I would like to write about two themes – the university in Enugu and my personal impressions.
The whole education system in Nigeria is disorganised and not to be envied. As expected it is not up to our Swiss standards. The professors do their best under the cincumstances. They took the best possible care of us and a chauffeured car was avaible for transportation in Enugu. Unfortunately the timing and the communication with the university did not function well especially just after our arrival. Lectures and courses
were often cancelled at short notice. The lectures were tedious due to the lack of teaching aids and the old fashioned didactic methods of the lecturers. The courses were based too much on theory and less on practice. The reality is completly different to the theory. The lectures were more interesting when the professors told us about realities in the building trade. The courses could be more interesting by using simple methods like the blackboard for sketches or the text (script) in printed form.
Professionally I gained the most from the course „Design in the Tropics“. To design a private residence in a tropical region we had to solve many problems. Firstly the climatic then the social problems of the Nigerian community. The security is very important because the crime rate is very high. The family part of an appartment is seperate to the semi-public part. The property is surrounded by a high wall and every window has iron bars. The learning and working on this project was exciting and a lot of fun.
Personally for me participainting in the daily Nigerian life was more important than the academic. The life in Nigeria is the opposite to our well organised life in Switzerland. Nigeria is a huge chaos. Every day brings a surprise. It was frustrating at first but in time I came to accept the Nigerian way of life and began to enjoy my new life. Nigeria is a land of contrasts and maybe it is the reason why I became fond of this land. The beauty of this country is its peoples. They are simple, charming , optimistic and cheerful. We are grateful to have had the oppurtunity to make good friends and to live in a totally new environment and culture.
I can recommend this exchange programme to everyone. Yes, everybody should have this oppurtunity to have this experience. All these memories are unforgettable and enriched my life.
I thank the organisation that have made this possible.
Written by Kurt Wyss
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