On May 20, the Reform and Development Conference on Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era, guided by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and hosted by Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA), was held in Beijing.

With the theme “Change and Continuity — Challenges and Opportunities for Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era,” the conference featured in-depth discussions on the opportunities and challenges facing the field, focusing on cultivating outstanding talents and proposing innovative reform measures. At the conference, the Action Declaration of Universities of Civil Engineering and Architecture for Building a Leading Country in Education was officially released.

Key attendees delivering speeches included NI Hong, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; YU Yingjie, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Education Working Committee; JIANG Wanrong, Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development; WU Shixing, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education; and YANG Shuo, Deputy Secretary-General of Beijing Municipal People’s Government. Over 300 participants attended the conference, including delegates from relevant departments of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Education, Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, Beijing Municipal People’s Government, Beijing Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Education Working Commission of Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Beijing Municipal Education Commission; leadership of universities such as Tsinghua University and BUCEA; over 60 nationally recognized talents and renowned experts; deans of schools of architecture and civil engineering as well as heads of relevant departments from more than 60 leading universities in civil engineering and architecture; and representatives from over 20 top central and local enterprises and industry associations in the construction sector, including China State Construction Engineering Corporation and China Construction Technology Consulting Group.

Symposium on Discipline Development and Talent Cultivation in Civil Engineering and Architecture at Higher Education Institutions

On the afternoon of May 20, NI Hong, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, chaired a symposium on the development of disciplines and cultivation of talent in civil engineering and architecture. YU Yingjie, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Education Working Committee, attended the symposium.

NI Hong, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, delivering a speech

NI Hong pointed out that housing and urban-rural development in China has entered a critical phase of transformation. As cities transition into a new stage of urban renewal, the construction industry is undergoing industrial, digital, and green transformations. These changes not only pose challenges but also offer significant opportunities for the development of civil engineering and architecture disciplines in higher education, creating broad space for disciplinary transformation.

NI Hong emphasized the need to further strengthen and improve discipline development in civil engineering and architecture at universities. A variety of measures should be taken to accelerate the upgrading and transformation of these disciplines. Universities should leverage their strengths in academic expertise, technology, and talent to build research platforms and high-level think tanks.

YU Yingjie, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Secretary of the Education Working Committee,
delivering a speech

At the symposium, YU Yingjie provided an overview of Beijing’s overall development and expressed high expectations for the future of universities specializing in architecture. He noted that higher education in Beijing will continue to drive scientific and technological progress as well as socioeconomic development. Universities specializing in civil engineering and architecture have made significant contributions to housing construction, urban governance, and rural revitalization in the city. He affirmed that Beijing will continue to strengthen support for these universities to cultivate more high-caliber talents for the housing and urban development sector.

Leadership from 17 universities conducted in-depth discussions on a range of topics. All participants agreed that universities in civil engineering and architecture must remain confident and strategically focused in the new era. They must proactively align with the transformation needs of the industry and optimize the structure of academic disciplines. The path forward lies in deepening integration of industry and education as well as science and education, and promoting collaborative talent cultivation, while advancing transformation toward digitalization, intelligence, green development, and low-carbon practices. Efforts must be intensified to cultivate new generations of top-tier innovative talents, and to accelerate the establishment of a competency-based talent cultivation system that integrates industry, academia, research, and application. A normalized, multi-party mechanism for collaboration among universities, industries, and enterprises should be established to promote the sharing of high-quality resources, collaborative commercialization of technological achievements, and joint development of educational standards. Further emphasis should be placed on the development of the Alliance for Outstanding Engineers Education to create a transformative community of education and innovation. Through international talent cultivation, universities should actively engage in global governance of education and work together to provide Chinese solutions for global higher education in civil engineering and architecture.

On the morning of May 20, the opening ceremony and keynote report session of the Reform and Development Conference on Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era were held.

JIANG Wanrong, Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development,
delivering a speech

JIANG Wanrong, Member of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, delivered a speech. He stated that higher education in civil engineering and architecture carries the cultural mission of passing on the wisdom of the Chinese nation and shoulders the important responsibility of cultivating national-level master artisans for the new era. The high-quality development of the housing and urban-rural development sector places great expectations on talent cultivation. Joint efforts must be made to promote the high-quality development of disciplines and specialties in civil engineering and architecture, with a focus on collaborative education and the construction of a professional talent cultivation system, while advancing key breakthroughs. He called for the development of advantageous and characteristic disciplines, the strengthening of university-enterprise cooperation, and the promotion of deep integration among industry, academia, research, and application. The quality of young talents determines the future of the industry, and higher education is the starting point for that future. As the competent authority of the sector, the ministry will continue to support the high-quality development of university education and academic disciplines, actively provide guidance and services, and encourage enterprises to participate in the talent cultivation process in close coordination with universities. Industry associations are expected to play a bridging and linking role in building platforms for talent training, while universities and the media should actively promote best practices and outstanding achievements in higher education, so as to create a strong atmosphere for talent development.

WU Shixing, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education, delivering a speech

WU Shixing, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education, stated that General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the accelerating evolution of profound global changes unseen in a century, along with the deepening of a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation. In this context, education is increasingly becoming a critical factor in enhancing national core competitiveness and securing strategic initiative. At a time when the higher education sector nationwide is thoroughly implementing the directives of the 2024-2035 Master Plan on Building China into a Leading Country in Education, holding the Reform and Development Conference on Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era is of great significance. The conference focuses on the opportunities and challenges facing the field under the new era, gathering wisdom from government bodies, universities, enterprises, and research institutions to jointly explore the paths of perseverance, transformation, and development. He expressed confidence that the conference will effectively promote reform and innovation in talent cultivation for civil engineering and architecture. He proposed the following actions: to broadly build consensus and adopt a high-level perspective on the importance and urgency of innovating the talent cultivation system in this field; to deepen the development of emerging engineering education and cultivate top-tier innovative talents urgently needed by the country with high quality; and to strengthen the empowerment of digital intelligence by integrating artificial intelligence technologies throughout the entire process of higher education in civil engineering and architecture.

YANG Shuo, Deputy Secretary-General of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, delivering a speech

YANG Shuo, Deputy Secretary-General of Beijing Municipal People’s Government, stated that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has issued a series of important instructions on urban planning, city development and management, and the protection and utilization of historical and cultural heritage in Beijing. As a major center of education in China, Beijing will focus on leveraging the guiding and supportive role of education, actively serving core tasks such as the cultivation of new-quality productive forces, governance of mega cities, and integrated urban-rural development. The city will continue to promote reform in higher education for civil engineering and architecture, strive to cultivate more first-class engineering talents in the field, and deliver more first-class achievements, thereby supporting high-quality development with high-quality education. Going forward, with strong support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Ministry of Education, Beijing will fully leverage its abundant educational resources as the capital, focus on major needs such as the cultivation of new-quality productive forces, mega city governance, and urban-rural integration, and provide quality platforms and resources for the reform and development of higher education in civil engineering and architecture. The city will make every effort to develop modern education with characteristics of the capital, Chinese features, and world-class standards, contributing strong support to building a great modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation in all respects.

ZHENG Yu, Chairman of the University Council of BUCEA, giving remarks

ZHENG Yu, Chairman of the University Council of BUCEA, stated that General Secretary Xi Jinping has made a series of important remarks on urban development, emphasizing the principles of “cities should be built for the people,” “carrying out urban renewal projects and improving urban infrastructure to build livable, resilient, and smart cities. the implementation of urban renewal initiatives, strengthening grassroots urban infrastructure, and building livable, resilient, and smart cities.” He noted that upholding fundamental principles while embracing innovation, shifting from discipline orientation to industrial layout and future demand orientation, and evolving from merely serving industrial development to both meeting and leading industrial transformation are necessary paths for the reform and development of higher education in civil engineering and architecture in the new era. Through hosting this conference, he said, universities of architecture come together to explore how to respond to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people and by the times, and to demonstrate their unique contributions in answering each of them — with the shared goal of jointly advancing the reform and development of higher education in civil engineering and architecture in the new era.

Release of the Action Declaration of Universities of Civil Engineering and Architecture for Building a Leading Country in Education

At the opening ceremony, the conference solemnly released the Action Declaration of Universities of Civil Engineering and Architecture for Building a Leading Country in Education. The declaration states that universities specializing in civil engineering and architecture will join forces in offering scientific responses to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people and by the times, demonstrating their institutional responsibility and commitment to serving the national strategy of building China into a leading country in education. Together, they will advance the reform and development of higher education in civil engineering and architecture, and remain steadfast in promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent. They will work hand in hand to build a new model of higher education in this field, firmly uphold the principle of “cities for the people,” and jointly promote the industry’s transformation through transition to digital, smart, industrial and green development. With a global perspective, they aim to actively participate in international education governance and contribute Chinese solutions to global civil engineering and architecture education. These universities are determined to remain true to their original mission, take the lead, thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses on education and urban development, strengthen confidence in the future of urban and rural construction, continuously foster new drivers and advantages for development, and, united in purpose, deliver an outstanding answer to the mission of building world-class civil engineering and architecture higher education with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

The keynote report session was co-chaired by Professor ZHAO Xiangmo, President of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, and Professor ZHAO Xianzhong, Vice President of Tongji University. Eight renowned experts shared their valuable insights on the reform of talent cultivation models in civil engineering and architecture, addressing the issue from both the demand and supply perspectives.

MAO Zhibing, former Chief Engineer of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, delivered a report titled Driving a New Transformation in Civil Engineering Talent Cultivation Guided by Industry Transition. He pointed out that the construction industry is shifting from an incremental growth phase to one focused on the mature market, and that high-quality development must be achieved through the integration of “made in China, created in China, and built in China” and the coordination of transition to digital, smart, industrial and green development. To meet the new circumstances and requirements, universities specializing in civil engineering and architecture should boldly pursue innovation, deepen the integration of industry and education, and cultivate high-quality professionals with creative capabilities—thus forging a new path in emerging engineering education.

WANG Kai, President of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, delivered a report titled Talent Development Needs in the Era of Urban Renewal. He pointed out that the logic of urban development is shifting from a sequence of “people–city–industry” to “people–industry–city.” The architecture and civil engineering sectors must adapt to the demands of the stock-based development era, with a focus on innovation, ecological sustainability, and the creation of cultural spaces. He emphasized that discipline development should deeply integrate technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, and strengthen the connection between traditional architectural planning and interdisciplinary fields, in order to cultivate well-rounded, cross-disciplinary talents.

Professor DING Lieyun of Huazhong University of Science and Technology delivered a report titled Exploring the Cultivation of Innovative Interdisciplinary Talents in Intelligent Construction. He believed that modern engineering education must establish a cultivation system based on the integration of “science + practice + literacy,” incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data. Such a system, he argued, should enhance the scientific rigor of engineering disciplines and strengthen the ability to solve complex engineering problems, while combining technological application with a strong sense of social responsibility.

Professor WANG Jianguo of Southeast University delivered a report titled Reflections and Suggestions on the Reform and Development of Architectural Education in China. He proposed that the evaluation criteria and graduation standards for architecture programs should be re-examined, optimized, and elevated. Specifically, he recommends the establishment of a “1+N” evaluation system for architectural disciplines. He further suggested building a new “hourglass + filtration layer” model for architectural education that integrates workplace-specific training, secondary customization, and diversified career pathways. This model aims to achieve the outcome of “accurately identifying changes, adeptly responding to them, and working to steer them in our favor.”

Professor TANG Hongwu, President of South China University of Technology, delivered a report titled Upholding Fundamentals and Embracing Innovation: Advancing Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration to Deepen the Reform of Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era. He explained that the university is promoting interdisciplinary program development and implementing dual-bachelor degree tracks to cultivate versatile talents. Reforms are also being carried out to deepen university-enterprise collaboration and integrate industry with education, including the development of a “double-qualified” faculty team and the introduction of industry professionals into the teaching process.

Professor SHA Aimin, President of Chang’an University, delivered a report titled Expanding Connotations and Embracing Change: Reflections on the Transformational Development of Civil Engineering Disciplines. He suggested broadening the scope and depth of civil engineering as a discipline, empowering the future of architecture through interdisciplinary integration. He also advocated for leveraging emerging technologies to break the traditional spatial and temporal constraints of education, thereby restructuring the pathways for talent cultivation.

FAN Feng, Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology, delivered a report titled Anchoring the Frontier and Seizing the Momentum. He explained that in response to the challenges posed by industry transformation, the university will focus on establishing itself as a benchmark institution for emerging engineering education. Moving forward, the university will further deepen the integration of industry and education, build a collaborative innovation ecosystem between universities and enterprises, and strengthen its capacity to empower the development of the construction industry.

ZHANG Dayu, President of BUCEA, delivered a report titled Focusing on Industry Transformation and Maintaining Strategic Resolve: Exploring New Paths for Cultivating Top Innovative Talents in Civil Engineering and Architecture. He pointed out that in the face of multifaceted challenges and dynamics—including changes in higher education, industry transformation, technological advancement, and the university’s mission to serve the capital—reform must be promoted in alignment with institutional realities. This includes enhancing and optimizing academic disciplines, restructuring knowledge systems, innovating collaborative education models, and integrating diverse international perspectives.

On the afternoon of May 20, two parallel symposiums on talent cultivation were also held as part of the conference. Deans of schools of architecture and civil engineering from universities across the country attended the sessions, engaging in in-depth professional discussions on key reforms related to discipline development and talent cultivation.

Symposium on Talent Cultivation in Architecture

At the symposium on talent cultivation in architecture, nearly one hundred deans of architecture schools, academic leaders, and industry experts from over 50 universities nationwide—including Tsinghua University, Tongji University, Southeast University, and Tianjin University—gathered for in-depth discussions on “discipline development and talent cultivation in architecture under new circumstances.” The session aimed to build consensus on training pathways for talents during a period of industry transformation. Experts agreed that while the core of architectural disciplines remains unchanged, they must adapt to the evolving needs of the industry. Many institutions shared differentiated and distinctive practices, and several experts presented their schools’ diverse objectives for talent cultivation. Interdisciplinary integration was widely emphasized as essential to the advancement of architectural disciplines. A focal point of the symposium was technological empowerment. Participants unanimously agreed that the discipline must explore how to construct innovative mechanisms and scenarios that support the effective application of new technologies.

Symposium on Talent Cultivation in Civil Engineering

At the symposium on talent cultivation in civil engineering, deans and experts from over 40 universities—including Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Tongji University, Chongqing University, and Southeast University—engaged in in-depth discussions on core topics such as “discipline development in civil engineering, curriculum reform, talent cultivation, AI empowerment in civil engineering education, and innovative models of industry-education integration.” Participants reached a consensus: the status of the construction industry as a pillar of the national economy remains unchanged, and the transformation period presents both opportunities and challenges for civil engineering disciplines. It is essential to proactively adapt to the evolving demands of the industry. With the mission of building China into a leading country in education, universities must act with confidence and a strong sense of responsibility, systematically advancing the coordinated development of education, science and technology, and talent. A new model of higher education in civil engineering should be established to drive the transition to industrial, green, smart and international development of the construction sector. A “Chinese solution” for the reform of civil engineering education should be put forward to guide the innovative development of engineering education in the new era.

The Reform and Development Conference on Higher Education in Civil Engineering and Architecture in the New Era is a landmark event focusing on the reform and innovation of talent cultivation in this field. It serves as a key platform for deep integration between industry and education and for collaborative advancement among government, industry, academia, research, and application sectors. In the journey toward building China into a leading country in education, universities of civil engineering and architecture are actively embracing their responsibilities and planning for future development. They jointly issued the Action Declaration of Universities of Civil Engineering and Architecture for Building a Leading Country in Education, using the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent as the overarching framework. Through interdisciplinary integration, industry-education collaboration, and technological empowerment, these universities aim to reform and innovate talent cultivation models, nurturing versatile professionals who can meet the needs of the construction industry to transition to digital, smart, industrial and green development. At the same time, guided by the “people-centered city” philosophy, they work to advance technological innovation and industrial upgrading, contributing Chinese solutions to global education governance. This action framework not only provides academic support for the development of a strong educational system but also injects new momentum into the high-quality development of the construction industry, demonstrating the mission, responsibility, and global vision of China’s higher education in civil engineering and architecture.

As a major force supporting talent cultivation and technological innovation in urban and rural development both nationally and in the capital, BUCEA actively fulfills its role as “a cradle for talent development, a source of technological innovation, and a guardian and promoter of Chinese architectural civilization.” Facing the new stage in urban development, which is shifting from large-scale expansion to refined upgrading of existing assets, and in light of the deep transformation of the industry and new demands for talent cultivation, BUCEA is taking initiative and planning ahead. It is pooling collective wisdom to lead reform efforts in areas such as talent cultivation models, academic discipline optimization, and industry transformation. By systematically addressing key challenges, BUCEA strives to promote the reform and development of higher education in civil engineering and architecture in the new era. In doing so, it aims to deliver an excellent answer to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people and by the times, fully demonstrating the university’s commitment to building China into a leading country in education.