KUNMING, CHINA – 02 July 2026 – KUNMING, CHINA – 01 July 2026 – Associate Professor Dr. Thi Phuoc Lai Nguyen (Dean of AIT’s Faculty of Public Policy and Sustainable Development – FPSD) and Prof. Kyoko Kusakabe (Deputy Dean) visited the Yunnan University (YU), Chenggong Campus. YU is a leading university in China with a rich history spanning over a century.
The AIT-FPSD delegation was warmly received by key YU executives: Prof. Xu Jian, Executive Vice Dean of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Assoc. Prof. Ge Zhong, Deputy Head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Dr. Long Ye, Deputy Head of the Department of Urban and Rural Planning, and Dr. Yang Yaoning, Head of the Teaching and Research Office of the Department of Architecture.
Both sides engaged in productive discussions aimed at formalizing a long-term partnership. The talks focused on several high-impact initiatives:
- Joint Degree Programs: Establishing unified pathways, including Bachelor’s-to-Master’s and Master’s-to-Doctoral degrees.
- Academic Exchanges: Organizing collaborative workshops, seminars, and knowledge-sharing events.
- Joint Research: Developing collaborative research initiatives centered regional sustainable development, socio-ecological system governance, and rural studies.
Following the executive meeting, Dean Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lai and Prof. Kyoko delivered guest seminars to the student body. The guest seminar was presided by Prof. Zhao Min, the Head of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Dr. Long Ye, the Deputy Head of the Department along with other faculty members and numerous students attended the event. Thanks to a university-wide promotional effort by the YU administration, the event saw an unprecedented turnout. The response was so overwhelming that the university arranged an additional plenary hall to broadcast the seminars to the overflowing audience.
During the session, Dean Dr. Lai presented an introduction to AIT and the specialized offerings of FPSD. The presentation sparked immense enthusiasm, resulting in series of inquiries from YU students regarding AIT’s postgraduate application process and available funding opportunities through the AIT-China Scholarship Council (CSC) framework.
The visit concluded on an exceptionally high note, reinforcing a mutual commitment to regional academic excellence and leaving both institutions energized for the next steps of formalization.
