The College of Design at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) has partnered with Oxford Brookes University (OBU), UK, to advance an international dual-degree program. The OBU Architecture and Urban Design Dual Bachelor’s Degree Program, delivered entirely in English, aligns with global standards and aims to cultivate architecture and urban design professionals with strong sustainability awareness and practical expertise.
In late December 2025, OBU’s Head of Urban Design, Professor Laura Novo De Azevedo, visited Taiwan for nine days to meet with CYCU faculty and discuss curriculum alignment, course updates, and future collaboration, further strengthening the partnership.
On December 22, CYCU College of Design also co-hosted the 2025 CYCU Christmas Walking Festival, themed “Turning Zhongbei Road into a Street Playground,” showcasing people-centered public space practices. Professor Azevedo attended the opening ceremony, highlighting the importance of human-centered urban design and recognizing CYCU’s ongoing efforts to improve urban public spaces.
On the afternoon of December 22, the two university teams held a series of meetings to review the updated UK bachelor’s program structure, course modules, assessment alignment, and integrated teaching strategies, and to further refine the dual-degree curriculum.
Both sides confirmed that the program’s core courses, Urban Lab 1 & 2, will adopt a cross-institutional co-teaching model, scheduled to launch in Fall 2026 (AY 2026–2027). With both universities delivering the same RTPI-accredited, English-taught curriculum, UK students will be able to study in Taiwan for at least one semester, strengthening international exchange and further aligning the CYCU OBU Program with global standards.
To strengthen the program’s urban vision and local engagement, Professor Laura Novo De Azevedo visited the Taoyuan City Government Department of Urban Development on the morning of December 23, accompanied by the CYCU College of Design team, and met with Director Nan-Chih Chiang. Director Chiang and his colleagues have long supported the OBU Program as industry mentors and have maintained a strong partnership with CYCU.
Both sides exchanged views on Greater Taoyuan’s future urban development, potential industry–government–university collaboration mechanisms, and talent cultivation. They also expressed expectations for more opportunities for CYCU students and graduates to participate in local development and urban design projects, contributing their expertise to the growth of Greater Taoyuan and the Zhongli district, and helping integrate international collaboration with local practice.
In the afternoon, CYCU and OBU co-hosted a public lecture titled “Sustainable Urban Design & Planning in the CYCU–Oxford Brookes Dual Degree: Innovation, Real Projects, and Employability.” The event introduced the dual-degree program’s vision and goals to students, parents, and the public, highlighting how project-based learning addresses sustainability challenges and workforce needs—particularly in terms of international collaboration and career development.
The program also included dialogue with industry professionals to explore future internship and partnership opportunities. Faculty and students from architecture, landscape, and urban design joined the event, further strengthening industry–academia connections.
Ahead of Christmas, Professor Azevedo also attended the OBU Program Christmas gathering, where CYCU faculty and students participated enthusiastically, along with members of the first cohort who returned to Taiwan for the holiday—reflecting the strong bond within the program community.
To support student recruitment and strengthen employability, the CYCU and OBU teams held an admissions briefing at Kang Ming Senior High School in Tainan on December 26, introducing the dual-degree study pathway and career advantages in both Chinese and English. In addition to Professor Laura Novo De Azevedo’s sharing, the event also invited alumnus Quincy Kuo, a first-cohort student of the OBU Program currently studying in the UK, to share first-hand experiences with prospective students—demonstrating CYCU’s concrete outcomes and commitment to international education.
From December 29 to 30, both teams continued a series of curriculum and research integration meetings, focusing on future international study opportunities for master’s and doctoral programs across related departments, as well as confirming the structure of Urban Lab 2. The visit concluded with an “OBU–CYCU Employability Strategy” workshop, covering skill development, an analysis of Taiwan’s urban design job market, and guidance on portfolio building and digital CV preparation, with the goal of enhancing graduates’ global competitiveness and career prospects.
The Director of the CYCU OBU Program, Tung-Sheng Hsieh, stated that Professor Laura Novo De Azevedo’s intensive visit and public events in Taiwan not only strengthened the quality of the dual-degree program and deepened institutional integration, but also helped establish an international professional education platform centered on environmental sustainability, a balance of theory and practice, and a strong focus on employability. He added that the program provides CYCU faculty and students with valuable opportunities to connect globally while engaging locally, and represents a unique model in Taiwan’s higher education landscape.
