On July 18, the Closing Ceremony of the 2026 International Summer School on SmartCities &The 5th Belt and Road Architectural University International Consortium (BRAUIC) Young Scholars Forum Themed “New Insights, Shared Visions: Building the Silk Road Together”was successfully held. The event was attended by CHEN Zhaohui, Vice President of Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture (BUCEA); ZHENG Zhiming, Deputy Director of the Beijing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center; Oleg Poroshin, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Design at Industrial University of Tyumen, Russia; Boitsova Daria, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at SaintPetersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Russia, a delegation of seven faculty members from Baku Engineering University, Azerbaijan; as well as representatives from relevant BUCEA departments and more than 180 faculty members and students.

Thematic academic lectures

Featured practical learning activities

Historical and cultural exchanges

Solo dance White Flower by a student representative from Azerbaijan

In her remarks, CHEN Zhaohui reflected on the ten-year journey of the International Summer School on Smart Cities. She encouraged all participants to treasure the friendships, inspiration, and courage they had gained during the program and to contribute to the development of smart cities.

In his remarks, ZHENG Zhiming congratulated all participants on their successful completion of the program.

During the student presentation session, representatives from each class shared their reflections and key takeaways from the nine-day program.

ZHAO Linlin, Deputy Director of the Department of Academic Affairs, and LI Xiaohu, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee of the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, presented certificates of completion to student representatives. KANG Jian, Secretary of the Youth League Committee, presented certificates of honor to representatives of outstanding volunteers.

Following the closing ceremony, the 5th BRAUIC Young Scholars Forum was held. Oleg Poroshin, Director of the Institute of Architecture and Design at Industrial University of Tyumen, Russia, delivered a lecture titled Architectural Education at the Engineering University; Iakovleva Ksenya, Associate Professor at Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU), Russia, presented CREATING A LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT: Educational process and design activities of the Department of Landscape Architecture of the SPbGASU; Khayala Ibrahimova, Lecturer at Baku Engineering University, shared her lecture Building Bridges Through Education, Strengthening Friendship; and CHEN Guanhao, student representative of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Greater China Section BUCEA Student Chapter, delivered a lecture titled Youth as Bridges, Co-build a Silk Road Engineering Community.

Since its establishment in 2016, the International Summer School on Smart Cities has undergone a ten-year journey. Over the past decade, the program has continuously brought together high-quality educational resources from China and abroad, inviting leading scholars to share their expertise. It has provided young people from China and abroadwith opportunities to deepen their understanding of the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese architecture, as well as the latest developments in intelligent construction technologies.

As the Chair and Secretariat Institution of BRAUIC, BUCEAhas brought together 101 member institutions from 33 countries and regions.