Leading the Way in China: XJTLU Architecture Course gets RIBA Validation

SUZHOU, China, March 6, 2015 /CNW/ -- The BEng Architecture programme from the Department of Architecture at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) has recently become the first programme of its kind at a Chinese university to receive validation by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Last year the Royal Institute noted, "Challenging both western and Chinese educational paradigms for architecture was an ambitious goal," but with the recent announcement of XJTLU's validation RIBA praised the University for "Developing an alternative model for Chinese architecture education."

The report last week also stated, "The [RIBA] Board commends the Department and staff body on creating a distinctive environment in which students learn from an international and Chinese context with an ambition to produce a new type of graduate, with an emphasis on human-centered architecture, for the emerging global context."

The official announcement from RIBA comes 18 months after the Department first sought recognition for their innovative and successful teaching methods and highlights their commitments to providing its students with the very best in terms of theoretical and practical training in the art of architectural design.

Speaking of the Departments recent recognition, Professor Pierre-Alain Croset, Head of Department said, "It's great to see that the hard work and dedication of the staff and students has resulted in this official recognition – underlying our powerful connections between west and east. As the most international architecture department in China, we at XJTLU offer an exciting pioneering opportunity for the next generation of internationally mobile Architects.

"Our next target is for RIBA to validate our Master of Architecture postgraduate programme." He added, "Our challenging courses at undergraduate and masters level clearly indicate that XJTLU, in China, is well and truly open for business. This paves the way for closer cooperation and student mobility between our University and other leading schools of architecture all around the world."

About XJTLU:

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is an international university jointly founded by leading institutions from both China and the U.K. As an independent Sino-British venture, XJTLU is a pioneer in the field of higher education in mainland China. The campus is located in the World Heritage city of Suzhou on China's Eastern seaboard, which boasts the fourth largest concentration of GDP in China, and offers a unique environment in which to study, live, and thrive.

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SOURCE Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University