From March 18 to 29, 2019, ZENG Peng, vice dean of Tianjin University School of Architecture, ZHANG Tianjie, deputy director of the International Exchange Department, and ZHANG Long, deputy director of TJU's Humanities and Social Affairs Office, made an academic visit in the UK. The TJU delegation visited UCL, KCL, LSE, Manchester School of Architecture, The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Liverpool, The University of Sheffield, Cardiff University and other famous landscape architecture schools. Several meetings were held characterized by in-depth exchanges and discussions about various cooperation issues, such as teaching and scientific research. The overseas high-level talent recruitment fair of TJU School of Architecture was successfully held in UCL.

First stop in London: UCL, KCL, LSE

UCL is one of the "G5 Super Elite Universities" in the UK. Its Faculty of Building Environment consists of 11 schools and research institutes, including the School of Architecture, the School of Planning, and CASA. The Built Environment discipline ranks first in QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2019. KCL is one of the Golden Triangle Universities, and its Public Policy discipline ranks first in QS World University Rankings by Subject in 2019. LSE is also one of the "G5 Super Elite Universities" in the UK, and it ranks 31^st in QS World University Rankings in 2019.

On the morning of March 19, vice dean Zeng Peng and his delegation held a discussion with Professor Wu Fulong, head of Planning Department of Faculty of Building Environment and academician of the British Academy of Social Sciences. The two parties discussed topics such as the construction of talent introduction base in TJU, exchange visits of teachers, exchange of students, and joint doctor cultivation. Zeng Peng invited Professor Wu to attend the international conference hosted by TJU.

On the afternoon of March 19, a symposium was held with Professor Michael Batty, head of UCL CASA (The Bartlett Centre of Advanced Spatial Analysis), during which the two parties introduced the development of their respective school disciplines and their latest progress of scientific research projects. Professor Batty presented his new book Inventing Future Cities to the School of Architecture, and looks forward to visiting TJU.

On the afternoon of March 20, A symposium was held with Professor Alan Penn, Director of UCL Faculty of Building Environment. In the beginning, Professor Alan Penn recalled his unforgettable experience that Professor Wang Qiheng accompanied him on the visit to the tombs of Qing Dynasty as a guide, then the two sides introduced basic information of their respective schools to each other and reached a consensus on carrying out relevant collaboration.

On the morning of March 21, the School of Architecture delegation, with associate professor Edward Denison, director of UCL master's program in architecture and historical city environment, discussed a plan to hold a special exhibition of Yang Shilei drawings and archives in UCL.

From 4pm to 8pm on March 20, the overseas high-level talent recruitment fair of TJU School of Architecture was successfully held in UCL. The recruitment fair was presided over by Dr. Chen Huanfa, teacher from UCL CASA. Zeng Peng, vice dean of the School of Architecture, gave a detailed introduction of the talent recruitment fair, which was attended by nearly 20 young teachers and doctors from UCL, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, majoring in spatial analysis, environmental engineering design, architecture, urban and rural planning, landscape architecture and other disciplines. The talent recruitment fair was the first one independently held by Tianjin University's school-level institute, which has received strong support from TJU's personnel department. It is a new attempt in the organization of TJU's overseas recruitment of talents.

On the morning of March 20, vice dean Zeng Peng and his delegation visited the Social Science and Public Policy Faculty of KCL, and had in-depth idea exchanges with geography department teachers Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Robert Cowley on cross-cutting collaboration in public policy, geography and spatial planning. On the afternoon of March 21, the School of Architecture delegation visited LSE and had a discussion with Professor Hyun Bang Shin, Director of Southeast Asia Research Center. The two parties exchanged their ideas on intersecting collaboration in the fields of human geography, urban and rural planning, then reached a consensus on joint postgraduate cultivation, teaching and scientific research cooperation.

Second stop in Manchester: Manchester School of Architecture, The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University

On the morning of March 22, accompanied by Professor Cheng Jianquan from the Department of Human and Geography of The University of Manchester, the School of Architecture delegation held a symposium with Professor Tom Jefferies, Dean of Manchester School of Architecture, Professor Ola Uduku, Director of International Cooperation, and Marie-France Pether, Manager of International Cooperation of Manchester Metropolitan University International Department. The two sides expressed their collaboration intention on affairs such as joint workshops and exchange visits of teachers. After the symposium, the delegation observed classes and teaching results of master's programs such as architectural heritage regeneration and urban design. Manchester School of Architecture is Britain's largest institute of architecture, ranking TOP10 in QS World University Rankings for many years in a row.

On the afternoon of March 22, the delegation discussed with Professor Cecilia Wong, director of Manchester Urban Institute, the University of Manchester and the academician of British Academy of Social Sciences, and postdoctoral fellow Wang Lei. They had in-depth discussions on the similarities and differences between Chinese and British planning disciplines, research hotspots, and cooperation in scientific research and teaching between the two parties, and expressed their intention of preliminary collaboration. The University of Manchester ranked 3rd in the 2014 REF（Research Excellence Framework）and 29th in the QS World University Rankings 2018/2019.

With representatives fromManchester Urban Institute, the University of Manchester

Third stop in Liverpool: University of Liverpool

On March 24, accompanied by associate professor Du Jiangtao, TJU alumnus from University of Liverpool Arts School Architecture Department, and postdoctoral fellow Wang Yu from University of Glasgow Planning Department, the delegation visited the Department of Geography and Planning, and held discussions with lecturers Dong Guanpeng and doctoral student Tang Le of the Department on scientific research and teaching related to human geography, historical geography, physical geography and urban planning.

visiting University of Liverpool Department of Geography and Planning

Fourth stop in Sheffield: University of Sheffield

On March 25, the delegation visited University of Sheffield Department of Urban Research and Planning, then held a discussion with Professor Malcolm Tait, head of the department, and teacher Dr. Wang Zheng, leading to a collaboration intention on cooperative research and exchange visits of teachers between two sides. University of Sheffield ranked 21st in QS rankings 2019 and 3rd in REF 2014.

with Professor Malcolm Tait, head of the department, and Dr. Wang Zheng

Fifth stop in Cardiff: Cardiff University

On March 26th, the delegation had a meeting with Paul Milbourne, Dean of the School of Geography and Planning of Cardiff University, Professor Yu Li, Director of Eco-city Program, Siobhan Robinson, Director of Enrollment Department of Cardiff University International Office, and Bethan Caines, Co-operative Manager. During the meeting, the two parties discussed deeply on issues such as joint undergraduate-postgraduate program, joint doctoral cultivation, cooperative research, and joint workshops, resulting in an intention to collaborate. Cardiff University's architecture and built environment subject ranks 37th in QS 2019 and its geography ranked 9th in REF 2014.

with representatives from School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

During the academic investigation, the delegation led by vice dean Zeng Peng from TJU School of Architecture had extensive exchanges with nine famous universities in Britain. A series of multi-faceted teaching and scientific research cooperation issues such as joint workshops, exchange visits among teachers and students, joint cultivation of masters and doctors, and joint scientific research platform were included in their exchanges, which has effectively promoted the international influence of Tianjin University School of Architecture. Let's make efforts together and look forward to further cooperation!