At the invitation of Professor Lawrence Vale, former Chair of MIT's Department of Urban Research and Planning and Director of the Resilient Cities and Housing Institute, and Professor Hou Li from Harvard Graduate School of Design's Department of Urban Planning and Design, our School of Planning delegation embarked on a week-long academic exchange in Cambridge, Massachusetts from May 12 to 16,2025. This significant international visit, led by Vice Dean Yang Xiaochun with core faculty members Gan Xinyue and Zhang Li, engaged in academic and pedagogical exchanges with MIT's Department of Urban Research and Planning and Harvard Graduate School of Design's Department of Urban Planning and Design. The initiative aims to strengthen the school's global network of academic partnerships, advance collaborative research in urban planning technologies and curriculum innovation, and actively expand international academic resources for the School of Planning.

Visit the Department of Urban Research and Planning at MIT

The visiting delegation first met with Professor Wel at MIT, where they discussed expanding high-level academic and research collaborations based on the livelihood resilience research conducted in Shenzhen's Dafen Village years ago. The discussions covered publishing Chinese translations of resilience community studies and developing graduate courses. Under Professor Wel's guidance, the team toured MIT's campus, including iconic architecture by renowned architects, the Media Lab, and newly established teaching facilities, gaining firsthand insights into the institution's development.

Visit the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard Graduate School of Design

During this academic exchange, our delegation visited the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard Graduate School of Design, where they engaged in discussions with Professor Hou Li on research projects, infrastructure studies in Shenzhen, and studio program organization. Through Professor Hou's introduction, our representatives held dialogues with three faculty members: Rachel Weber (Department Chair), Ann Forsyth, and Hannah M. Teicher. The discussions focused on climate change-driven urban planning responses and the political economy of large-scale infrastructure investments. Both sides exchanged perspectives on academic exchanges and Shenzhen urban studies, expressing shared aspirations to deepen collaborative efforts. Additionally, at Professor Hou's recommendation, the delegation toured the graduate student learning spaces and spatial organization of Harvard Graduate School of Design, observing final project evaluations and exhibition displays of student works.

sum up

This academic visit exemplifies the College's recent initiatives in advancing high-level international academic exchanges. The Department of Planning aims to enhance innovative teaching approaches for undergraduate and graduate programs through collaborative research and pedagogical discussions. By leveraging the advantages of integrated academic-industrial-research collaboration, the department seeks to establish a solid academic foundation and provide exemplary case studies that will further elevate teaching standards and optimize educational systems.