Australia-Japan Tearoom Design Workshop: Questioning the Validity and Effectiveness of International Partnerships and Summer Schools

This contribution presents the results of research conducted on an Australian Japanese architecture design summer school. The activities were developed to achieve at least three goals: maximise social interaction and cross-multicultural knowledge, overcome the language barrier, and question and confront traditional architecture to modernity whilst challenging cultural identities and perceptions. The validity and the effectiveness of the programme were evaluated from a short and long-term perspective, as well as from a student and institution point of view. Although this case study is restricted to a geographical area and under a specific programme, it is hoped that these results might shed some light on the internationalization in architectural education.