From April 15 to 19, 2025, the 53rd International Conference on Urban Affairs (ICUA), organized by the Urban Affairs Association (UAA), was grandly held in Vancouver, Canada. As a premier academic event in the field of global urban research and governance, UAA has consistently committed to promoting interdisciplinary studies on urban issues and establishing a collaborative platform for scholars, policymakers and practitioners. This conference, focusing on global urban and regional development, attracted over 400 experts, scholars, and practitioners from universities, research institutions, and practical fields across more than 40 countries. Professor Zhang Weiwen, Vice Dean of the School of Public Affairs and Director of China Institute of Urbanization, Zhejiang University, along with Researchers of "Hundred Talents Program of Zhejiang University" Xu Yuanshuo and Wang Xiaomeng, led doctoral students from the school to attend the conference upon invitation.
On the afternoon of April 16, Professor Zhang Weiwen, Vice Dean of the School of Public Affairs and Director of China Institute of Urbanization, Zhejiang University, was invited to participate in Urban Forum & Business Meeting hosted by China-America Association for Public Affairs (CAAPA). During the meeting, She provided a detailed introduction to faculty opportunities at the School of Public Affairs of Zhejiang University and elaborated on the school's fundamental profile, disciplinary strengths, faculty resources, and future directions for academic development. Professor Zhang extended a sincere invitation to the researchers present to join the academic team of the School of Public Affairs of Zhejiang University, aiming to collaboratively advance cutting-edge research in public administration. This presentation not only showcased the academic and talent resources of the school but also served as a significant platform for deepening Sino-American academic cooperation and promoting international scholarly exchange.
Researchers of "Hundred Talents Program of Zhejiang University" Xu Yuanshuo and Wang Xiaomeng, along with doctoral students Li Ziqing, Fu Wenyang, Li Xuelian, Shi Jiayan and Zhang Hongzeng, each gave academic presentations in parallel sessions.
the teachers and students giving presentations
Throughout the conference, faculty members and students from the School of Public Affairs actively participated in multiple parallel sessions, engaging in dialogues with international peers on varieties of urban topics, including digital governance and urban mobility. Their presentations given by our faculty members and students demonstrated the institute's cutting-edge research in urban development. Furthermore, they facilitated the integration of China's urban governance insights into the global academic discourse via the interplay between domestic experiences and international theories as well.The doctoral students expressed that by observing the presentation skills and academic standards of their international counterparts, they had gained new perspectives on visualizing research outcomes and articulating key arguments succinctly. These experiences are expected to directly enhance their professionalism and impact in future international academic endeavors. The trip to Vancouver was not merely an exhibition of research achievements but also a precious opportunity to connect with the forefront of international academia. They deeply realized that, in the context of globalization, indigenous research must be rooted in China's practical situations while embracing an international vision to contribute more substantively to academic dialogues.
In recent years, the School of Public Affairs has been continually supporting faculty and students to be involved in high-level international academic exchanges. By combining the strategies of "bringing in" and "going out," the school has further deepened theoretical construction and international comparisons in research, vigorously expanded academic collaboration networks and continuously fostered China's international discourse power in urban development studies so as to dedicate more to the internationalization of research on China’s urban development. Looking ahead, the school will proceed to deepen international cooperation, promote the translation of academic achievements, and contribute more "China’s solutions" to the sustainable development of urban and rural areas worldwide.
