Dr Mazin Al-Saffar is a Lecturer in Architecture and Urbanism at the Manchester School of Architecture.
His knowledge and research are interdisciplinary and overlap with Architecture, Conservation, Future Cities, Urban Futures, Sustainability, Sustainable Urbanism and planning, Wellbeing and the Built Environment, Smart Urban Heritage, Smart Cities. It addresses diverse, complex urban issues such as improving sustainable urbanism and development, solving problems of unsustainable geographical expansion patterns and ineffective urban design and planning methods that have increased the number of slum areas, the unsuitable delivery of essential services and inefficient resource use and poverty. Regarding research techniques, he have experience in employing various multi-methods of gathering and analysing data within a single study paradigm. he have extensive experience in qualitative, quantitative and multi-strategy research, where each method integrates and builds on the strength of the other.
Before joining Manchester School of Architecture, Mazin worked as a Lecturer at the Department of Architectural Engineering/the University of Technology in Iraq. He also worked as a Senior Architect in Baghdad and Dubai for 14 years. In 2016, he was listed as an Associate Editor for the current volume of Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies in the USA.
Academic and professional qualifications
- 2019 PGCert, Learning & Teaching in HE, MMU
- 2018 PhD, Architecture and Urban Design, Manchester School of Architecture
- 2015 MPhil Architecture and Urban Design, Manchester School of Architecture
- 2007 M.Sc. Urban Design, Higher Institute of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Baghdad
- 1998 B.Sc. Architecture, Architectural Engineering Department, University of Baghdad
Previous Employment
- 2018 - 2021 Associate Lecturer, Manchester School of Architecture, MMU, Manchester, UK
- 2009 - 2013 Lecturer, Architectural Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq
- 2007 - 2009 Senior Architect, Adnan Saffarini Engineering Consultants, Dubai, UAE
- 2001 - 2007 Senior Architect, Founder, Director of KAN Company, Baghdad, Iraq
- 1998 - 2001 Architect, Qutrage Company, Baghdad, Iraq
Academic service (administration and management)
- 2021 - present Co-Lead, BA1 (Hons) Architecture, Manchester School of Architecture
- 2020 - 2021 Co-Lead, MA Architecture & Urbanism, Manchester School of Architecture
Languages
- English
- Arabic
Undergraduate courses
- 2021 - present Year 1, BA (Hons) Architecture, Manchester School of Architecture
- 2021 - present Year 2, BA (Hons) Architecture, Manchester School of Architecture
- 2009 - 2013 Year 3, BA (Hons) Architecture, Architectural Engineering Department, University of Technology
- 2009 - 2013 Year 4, BA (Hons) Architecture, Architectural Engineering Department, University of Technology
Postgraduate teaching
- 2018 - 2021 MA Architecture & Urbanism, Manchester School of Architecture (Studio A, B, C - Dissertation - Research Methodologies and Events - Cities and Urbanism: Ideologies and Futures)
Projects and initiatives
- 2021 - 2022 Regenerating Cities during Crisis: Culturally-Routed and sustainable strategies for Middle Eastern Cities (research and interactive workshops)
Prizes and awards
- 2014 - 2018 PhD Scholarship, The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Baghdad, Iraq
- 2007 M.Sc. Distinction Award, Higher Institute of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Baghdad
- 1998 B.Sc. Distinction Award, Architectural Engineering Department, University of Baghdad
Editiorial Board membership
- 2015 - 2016 Associate Editor - The International Journal of Sustainability Education in the USA.
Membership of professional associations
- 2019 - present Member, Best Architecture Masters Ranking
- 2019 - present Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- 2018 - 2019 Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- 1998 - present Member, Iraqi Engineers Union, Baghdad, Iraq