EUROPE

1. DENMARK
Danish Association of Architects
https://www.arkitektforeningen.dk/the-danish-architects-association

The Danish Association of Architects (Danish: Akademisk

Arkitektforening), or simply AA, is an independent professional
body for architects in Denmark. Members have the right to use
the title MAA.

DANISH ASSOCIATION OF ARCHITECTS

The Danish Association of Architects is an independent association

established in 1879 with the purpose to support and promote architects and
architectural quality. The association organizes about 7,000 qualified architects,
who are entitled to use the protected title MAA (MAA means Member of the
Danish Association of Architects).
Members of the Danish Association of Architects are entitled to add MAA to their
name. The title “Architect, MAA” is the protected and internationally recognized
title for those practicing professionally in the field of architecture in Denmark.
The association aims to advance and develop the members' interests across
geography, individual expertise and interests, to act on behalf of the members
on legislative and regulatory issues and to ensure that the built environment is
designed and managed by properly trained architects.

GOVERNANCE
The Governing body consists of a 52 member council elected by the members.
2. FINLAND

https://www.safa.fi/eng/

THE ASSOCIATION
SAFA is a non-profit, professional
organization open to all architects with a
university degree from a Finnish university or
equivalent qualification from another
country. SAFA has 2906 members (61% male
and 39% female). This accounts for approx.
80% of all Finnish architects with a university
degree. Membership is voluntary, and is not
a condition for practicing in the profession. In
Finland no registration is required. SAFA has
also 743 student members.
SAFA ACTIVITIES
The primary aim of all SAFA activities is
to promote the quality of the built
environment. At the national level, SAFA
endeavors to influence legislation by presenting SAFA opinion in the form of
statements and conducting discussions with politicians and various public
authorities. Together with other organizations in the building sector, SAFA has
defined the scope of work for architectural design. To ensure the interests of both
clients and architects, SAFA monitors and provides information about
architectural fees. It also supervises professional standards and ethics among its
members.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
At its annual autumn meeting, the Delegates Council appoints the SAFA
Executive Board, which consists of 10 members. The Chairman of the Executive
Board is called the Chairman of the Association and the Board’s 2 vice-chairmen
are both called Vice-Chairman of the Association. The Board has created
committees and workgroups to aid in its tasks.

MEMBERSHIP
Finnish citizens who have a degree in architecture from a Finnish university
or an equivalent professional qualification are eligible for SAFA membership.
Citizens of other Nordic countries are further required to be permanent residents
in Finland and working in the field of architecture. Architects from elsewhere
outside the Nordic countries must furthermore have lived in Finland for at least 2
years and know sufficient Finnish or Swedish in order to be able to adhere to the
SAFA rules and the guidelines issued to members.
People with a degree in architecture from elsewhere than Finland must
include a report on their studies when applying for SAFA membership. Usually a
printout of the contents of the person’s studies or similar is acceptable.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
SAFA deals with questions related to benefits in the job market via AKAVA
(A confederation of trade unions for academic professionals). The SAFA
Permanent Committee for Employment Issues is responsible for practical lab our-
market issues concerning both those working in architects’ offices as well as those
in the public sector. The Employment Issues' Committee also keeps contacts with
the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers TEK, with which it has a cooperation
agreement.
For questions regarding agreements and the setting of fees within the
private sector, SAFA has a Board Committee for Professional Practice, which on
behalf of clients or SAFA members’ issues expert statements regarding the
content of assignment agreements, and the validity of the architect’s fees.
The Board Committee for Education and Research monitors social and
other professionally related changes influencing the architect’s basic, post-
graduate and continuing education. This committee also prepares proposals,
initiatives and statements.
With its long traditions, the Permanent Committee for Collegial Issues,
appointed by the Association Council, deals with issues of collegiality between
members and norms concerning the architects’ ethics.