UI and Tongji University Launch Joint Institute for Future Architecture Research

RRI.CO.ID, Depok - University of Indonesia (UI) and Tongji University (TU), one of China’s leading institutions in architecture and civil engineering, are joining forces to shape the future of architectural research.

On Monday, June 15, 2026, the two universities signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish the Tongji-UI Institute of Architectural Design Research, envisioned as a hub for innovation and collaboration in Southeast Asia.

The institute will be developed through cooperation between UI’s Institute of Urban Planning and Smart City (IUS) and Tongji Architectural Design Group (TJAD). UI will provide land, workspace, and local certification support, while TJAD will contribute expertise, technical standards, and international design management systems.

The initiative aims to address pressing challenges in urban development, including climate change, limited land availability, and disaster risks. Both institutions plan to leverage advanced technologies--such as artificial intelligence--to design adaptive living spaces and urban areas, even in unconventional environments like underground or underwater settings.

UI Rector Heri Hermansyah emphasized that the partnership reflects UI’s commitment to expanding international collaboration and advancing knowledge with societal impact. “This cooperation opens opportunities for joint research, knowledge exchange, and broader academic networks at the global level,” he said, as quoted on UI's official website.

Tongji University, renowned for its world-class architecture and civil engineering programs, brings strong industry-linked research capacity through TJAD.

Founded in 1958, TJAD ranks among China’s top three design consultancies and the world’s top ten, with landmark projects including Shanghai Tower, the African Union Conference Center in Addis Ababa, and major public facilities across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

TU’s Vice President for International Cooperation, Li Xiangning, expressed hopes for accelerating student mobility programs and announced plans for a delegation visit to UI in October.

He also revealed TU’s long-term vision to establish an Indonesia Campus, while opening opportunities for UI to develop a China Campus, signaling a deeper academic partnership and expanded collaboration between Indonesia and China. ***