International Center for Architecture & Urban Development Studies, Zhejiang University, was established in January 2015. It is an interdisciplinary research institution directly affiliated to Zhejiang University. With architecture and urban studies as its core, the Center focus on conducting academic research, pedagogic experiment, pilot practice and social service work in a highly internationalized and interdisciplinary way.
Since its establishment, the Center is always adhering to meet the strategic needs of national development, and taking advantage of international advanced theory, experience and methods, in order to response to the urgent problems of urban development in China and explore an effective urban development path and method with Chinese characteristics. In academic research and pilot practice aspect, the Center keeps exerting its scientific research capability to establish a distinctive research system, through which to provide cutting-edge theories and practical experiences, thus to serve for international and local economic and social development better. On one hand, the Center uses advanced information technology to conduct empirical investigations and tracking studies to build a specialized database. On the other hand, it organizes international forums, lectures and other academic activities to build a professional think-tank.
In pedagogic experiment aspect, the Center is supported by Urban Design, Planning, Architecture, Landscape, Economics, Sociology, Politics and other disciplines. With interdisciplinary support, the Center is exploring a new cross-disciplinary education system that is rooted in China and facing the future, and a wide-spectrum pedagogic structure that is advanced and exemplary. Through interdisciplinary courses, specialized studios, international cooperation workshops, public classes, and continuing education programs, the Center strives to create a high quality teaching environment, and to incubate innovative microcosmic model for discipline construction. In this way, it will actively drive related disciplines to make a comprehensive breakthrough, and gradually become a leading academic platform at home and abroad.
