Mr Muhammad Nelza Iqbal (he/him)
School of Architecture and Landscape
PhD Research Student
Full contact details
School of Architecture and Landscape
Arts Tower
Western Bank
91̽»¨
S10 2TN
- Profile
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Nelza is a Researcher and Lecturer in the Department of Architecture at the National Technology Institute of Malang, Indonesia. He has a background in Architectural Engineering from the University of Brawijaya, Indonesia, and holds an MSc in Building Urban Design in Development from University College London. Since beginning his PhD at the University of 91̽»¨ in 2022, Nelza has focused on creating stronger and more sustainable collaborations between universities and communities in rural Indonesia to support community autonomy and resilience. His PhD project centres on understanding the dynamics of university-community collaboration and its potential to foster community autonomy and independence. Nelza’s career has spanned various roles in both academia and practice, with experience at institutions including the Agency for Regional Development in Jakarta, PPPOOOLLL Studio, OSA Studio, and ASF Jakarta. Before his PhD, he also worked as a Research Fellow for the Development Planning Unit (DPU) / Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR) / Community Architects Network (CAN), focusing on urban dynamics, advocacy, and alternative solutions for riverbank communities in Yogyakarta during the Covid-19 crisis. In both his research and practice, Nelza is passionate about advancing design beyond physical interventions. His work emphasizes community-driven design, social inclusion, local creativity, and collaborative networks that unite citizens in addressing shared challenges. In addition to his research, Nelza teaches various modules in the School of Architecture and Landscape and the School of Geography and Planning.
- Research interests
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Project Title
Post Collaboration Autonomy: Reflection on University-Community Architectural Pedagogy in Rural Indonesia
Project outline
My research explores the shift in architectural education toward practice-based, student-centered learning that emphasizes hands-on, dialogic, experiential, and collaborative methods. Globally, these pedagogical trends are embodied in approaches like design-build, live projects, service learning, and community-based design. While research has shown the benefits of these methods for students—such as enhanced skills and social awareness—less attention has been given to their lasting impact on the communities they serve. This study addresses this gap by examining university-community relations from the perspective of the community itself. The research investigates two case studies in rural Indonesia, focusing on the role of university-community collaboration in fostering community autonomy. Indonesia’s recent policy shifts, particularly the Kampus Merdeka initiative, encourage universities to engage more in community projects, which has made community-based learning particularly relevant. The study uses an ethnographic approach, including participant observations, semi-structured interviews, and communal discussions, to provide an in-depth, grounded analysis of perspectives from students, lecturers, village governments, and community members. Through these methods, it identifies interdependent factors that influence the continuity of these collaborations toward community autonomy. Anchored in critical pedagogy principles, influenced by thinkers like Freire, Haraway, and Mangunwijaya, this thesis critiques traditional academic frameworks that prioritize student outcomes over community needs. Mangunwijaya’s emphasis on self-reliance serves as a foundational concept, proposing that communities should draw on their own resources and capabilities. This study introduces a post-collaborative autonomy framework centered on inclusive participation, knowledge co-production, power dynamics, and self-driven initiatives. The findings aim to contribute to socially responsive architectural education, providing insights into sustainable university-community collaboration.
Primary Supervisor
Co-supervisors
Date Started
01/10/2022
- Publications
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Journal articles
- . European Planning Studies, 1-2.
Conference proceedings papers
- . AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 3132 (pp 050056-050056)
- . European Planning Studies, 1-2.
- Research group
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JUST Design
Links