The Bartlett School of Planning visit Shanghai to expand collaborations in China

The Bartlett School of Planning (BSP) Director, Prof. Raco and Research Director Prof. Andres spent a week in Shanghai to launch a new project with the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) and expand BSP collaborations in China with key academic institutions (Tongji University and Shanghai University). They also met with former BSP alumni and with the Building Design Partnership (BDP) Shanghai Office.

BSP and SASS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a new research collaboration between the two institutions aimed at developing a comparative dialogue between London and Shanghai. Prof Raco delivered a lecture on "Who is Governing London? The London Model and the Future of Global Cities." He was also joined by Prof. Andres, along with Professor Qiyu Tu from SASS, to lead a debate on “Let the Bells Ring: Listen to London in Shanghai. Hear Shanghai from London.” The team will now be working on a book decrypting and comparing both cities.

Prof. Raco and Prof. Andres, with the support of BSP former alumna Yuxi Xiong, were also invited by Professor Liu Shuyan, Director of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor Huang Lihe, Deputy Director of the Office of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tongji University, to discuss future cooperation in the area of Urban Governance and AI, in partnership with the Shanghai Association for Social Sciences. 

They also gave keynote lectures as part of the Guohao Forum for Humanities and Social Sciences, respectively entitled “Who is Governing London? Towards a Comparative Research Agenda for Global Cities” and “Governing Change: Adaptable Cities and Temporary Urbanisms.” The session was hosted by Prof Feng Yuan, Deputy Dean, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University. The visit was an opportunity to meet and engage with other scholars in the College of Architecture and Urban Planning, including Dr. Shengxi Xin, a BSP alum who is now working at Tongji University as a post-doctoral researcher.

Coordinated by the Head of Education for the Department for Business and Trade (British Consulate General, Shanghai), BSP also met with Li Fengqing, Deputy Dean of the Shanghai Institute of Urban Renewal and Sustainable Development, and Congchun Wang, Vice President of Shanghai University. A range of collaboration opportunities emerged in the areas of urban regeneration teaching and research. During the visit, they also connected with Jiang Yingxuan, a former BSP MSc Urban Regeneration student, now working at Shanghai University.

Finally, Professors Raco and Andres had the opportunity to visit the Shanghai Office of Building Design Partnership Ltd (BDP). After hearing about their latest regeneration projects, they discussed the relevance of planning and urban design training in the UK for international companies such as theirs. They were received by Winnie Liu, Senior Marketing Manager, and Yining She, Senior Architect.

Prof. Andres said: “Our visit to Shanghai was fascinating and is opening a breadth of new research opportunities for the school. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding support we received from our former UG student Yuxi Xiong (now a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge). Yuxi played a key role in making this week successful, allowing us to connect with the most relevant organisations in the city. She has been an extraordinary BSP ambassador, making us very proud. Additionally, we would also like to thank Su Si, Head of Education for the Department for Business and Trade (British Consulate General, Shanghai), who was pivotal in setting up key meetings.”

Prof. Raco says: “I am thrilled by the range of research opportunities that have emerged from this trip and our new collaboration with SASS. These are very complementary to the work Lauren and I are currently undertaking with Peking University on AI and Urban Development. Additionally, it was such a pleasure to meet with BSP's former students and see how they are now thriving. I am excited about these new emerging collaborations and how they will benefit BSP in the future.”