April 2–6, 2026 – At the invitation of Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU), a delegation from the School of Architecture, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, comprising Vice Dean Zou Dezhi, International Cooperation Professor Duan Jianqiang, and graduate student representatives, visited Belarus for academic exchange and research activities.
During the visit, the delegation held discussions with BNTU’s international cooperation officers, the Dean of the School of Architecture, Academician Yuri (Russian Academy of Architecture), Vice Dean Natalia, Department Head Ksenia (Painting, Watercolor, and Sculpture), Department Head Mikhail (Theory and History of Architecture), and student representative Tkachuk. The two sides exchanged views on the development of a joint international key laboratory for the Eurasian Steppe Belt, joint courses on architectural heritage conservation in the region, graduate student co-supervision, summer heritage workshops, teaching practices, and academic exchanges, reaching multiple consensus points.
Arranged by BNTU, the delegation toured the BNTU School of Architecture, visited professor studios, attended design course lectures, and conducted field research with BNTU faculty and students on representative historical buildings and urban blocks in Minsk. This provided detailed insights into Minsk’s practical experiences in urban planning, heritage conservation, and urban renewal. During the fieldwork, faculty from both sides exchanged views on sustainable urban development, regional architectural culture transmission, and further discussed intentions for establishing the Eurasian Steppe Belt joint laboratory and graduate student training. Concurrently, Professor Duan Jianqiang delivered two academic lectures at BNTU’s School of Architecture: "Straightforward Construction: Academician Zhang Pengju’s New Regional Architectural Practice" and "Brick as Materiality: A Key to Understanding Contemporary Chinese Architectural Practice."
The visit achieved fruitful results, successfully completing scheduled project coordination and academic lecture exchanges. It also broadened international perspectives through on-site investigations and deepened the long-term, stable partnership with BNTU. This laid a solid foundation for the future establishment of the Eurasian Steppe Belt joint international key laboratory and joint courses on architectural heritage conservation, setting a model for deepening international cooperation between our university and partner institutions along the "Belt and Road" Eurasian Steppe Belt.
