The joint graduation design project (ZJU-CEU Workshop) between Zhejiang University and Universidad San Pablo CEU in Spain is an important part of the cooperation and teaching exchange between the two universities. This cooperative project has been ongoing for 12 years since 2010 (except for a three-year suspension during the pandemic). This long-term academic cooperation project has achieved fruitful results. Over the past decade or so, more than 20 teachers and nearly 200 graduating students from the College of Civil Engineering and Architecture have participated in this activity. Through joint teaching and exchange, teachers and students from China and Spain, with different cultural backgrounds and learning experiences, have explored each other's excellent architectural practices and discovered their rich historical and cultural heritages.
In 2025, this project was funded by Zhejiang University's Undergraduate Overseas Winter Exchange Program. All the teachers and students focused on one of the graduation design topics proposed by the School of Architecture of San Pablo CEU University. From February 21st to March 9th, they went to Spain and completed the planned steps including project site investigation, joint workshops, teaching visits, and on-site teaching.
This year's joint graduation design was proposed by the School of Architecture of San Pablo CEU University. The project site was set in Albarracín, Trujillo Province, which is one of the most charming tourist destinations in Europe and has a history dating back to before the 9th century. While constantly attracting global tourists, it also faces problems such as hollowing out, insufficient infrastructure, and conflicts between tourists and local residents. Therefore, the design task was to create a tourist center, hoping that the designers could solve this complex problem with a comprehensive perspective and appropriate ideas. From February 22nd to 23rd, teachers and students from both universities went to Albarracín for a three-day on-site investigation and research.
From February 24th to 27th, students from both schools formed 11 groups and conducted multiple rounds of brainstorming based on the research results to sort out their respective design concepts.
In the final defense, each group of students elaborated on the thinking process and conceptual design results through sketches.
During the joint workshop, teachers and students of Zhejiang University also made a detailed visit to the teaching mode and teaching facilities of the School of Architecture of CEU University of San Pablo. He also met with the Dean of the School of Architecture.
Subsequently, the Zhejiang University team inspected the Garcia Cultural Center in Madrid, the Prado Museum and other famous architectural cases, and also visited Norman. The Foster Foundation, who visited Norman. Foster Architects' sketches and model files, with the most in-depth detailed drawing files and models, learn about the design thinking behind many of the world's most famous architectural cases.
From February 27th to March 7th, teachers and students of Zhejiang University visited famous historical buildings in Spain, including Toledo, Córdoba, Seville, Ronda, Malaga, Granada, Barcelona and other historic cities (towns), explored the latest urban renewal and architectural cases, and deeply experienced the unique cultural charm and architectural style of Spain.
Since returning to school on March 9, the joint graduation project will continue to promote and complete the mid-term defense and preliminary design results, according to the plan, teachers and students of CEU University of San Pablo in Spain will visit Zhejiang University in the summer semester and carry out exchanges on the results of the graduation project.
