The planning and organisation of such a regional training event requires time and careful consideration of a number of aspects. ISES, together with ISES ITALIA and the University of Roma Tre conceived the idea two years before the Academy was finally held. A search for funding was initiated, with a proposal submitted to under the EC ALTENER programme. This was granted for the merged LEARNET-SAMSA project (LEARNET focuses on the development of Guides on bioclimatic architecture in several languages).

The experiences gained by ISES during the previous Summer Academies for Solar Architecture assisted with the organisation of the SAMSA 2002. As the members of the ISES network are involved in sustainable energy issues, many of them are ideal experts for involvement in such a capacity building workshop. Experts were selected to share their expertise at the SAMSA 2002 with other professionals and students of architecture and engineering. The ISES network (National Sections) in the Mediterranean region also assisted with the marketing of the Academy, informing potential participants in their respective countries.

A programme was developed to specifically provide practical training, addressing the need of participants to learn from actual solar architectural design experiences — both from the experts but also by working on a design with the assistance and under the supervision
of mentors. The SAMSA 2002 programme covered eleven days of intensive training, using international expertise, focusing on a specific region and its relevant climates and other aspects, such as the cultural impact on building design. As it took place during the main European summer holiday, senior students and professionals were able to attend. As it was a unique European event, focusing on a specific topic — Mediterranean solar architecture — it drew great interest (Image 2).

The active involvement of ISES in the organisation of the Academy had several positive outcomes, among those:

• Lecturer identification and involvement was facilitated by the international contacts of ISES. In particular it was possible to include some of the best academic and training professional capacities in the field of Mediterranean solar architecture. Many renowned European experts in the field participated as lecturers, such as Dr. Alexandros Tombazis (Greece), Prof. Brian Ford (UK), Prof. Jaime Lopez de Asiain (Spain), Prof. Matheos Santamouris (Greece), Mr. Gilles Perraudin (France), Mr. Stefan Behnish (Germany), Prof. Gianni Scudo (italy) and many others (view www. ises. org/samsa for more details);

• The acquisition of financial support under the EC ALTENER programme and facilitating the involvement of building and energy technology companies as sponsors;

• The marketing of the SAMSA 2002 as a regional training event at international level;

• The creation of a Solar Building Library in the World-wide Information System for Renewable Energy (WIRE) (http://wire. ises. org) presenting examples from all over the world, including Mediterranean solar buildings.

• The organisation of a parallel ‘Exhibition for Renewable Energy Technologies for Buildings’ with many participating companies being members of ISES or the ISES network.

The organisational input provided by ISES ITALIA focussed largely on jointly developing a unique programme, providing local logistical support and interesting company members of the NGO to support the SAMSA 2002. In this way the synergy between these two partners, with different expertise contributed, helped to ensure the success of the event.