Recently, the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, along with the China Education Association for International Exchange, announced the first batch of outstanding education programs on China’s national conditions for international students. After expert review and evaluation, a total of 111 courses were selected, including BUCEA’s “China Sponge City” Course. It was among the five selected courses from Beijing and the only course chosen from a municipal-level university.

Enhancing Global Engagement with Specialized Expertise

Led by Vice President Professor LI Junqi, the “China Sponge City” Course is delivered by the School of Environment and Energy Engineering and the Department of External Affairs (School of International Education). Building upon BUCEA’s strength in urban development, the course integrates national first-class disciplines, key research labs of the Ministry of Education, and top research teams to present a teaching model combining theory, themed lectures, and fieldwork, with a focus on China’s ecological advancements. The curriculum provides a systematic overview of the development, planning and construction concepts, and core technologies of sponge cities.

Empowering Diverse Learning Practices to Establish a Flagship Program on China’s National Conditions

The course covers two main directions: The Development of China Sponge City and Sponge City Planning and Construction. Structured into ten themed modules and illustrated by typical cases such as ancient rainwater management techniques at the Forbidden City, the renovation of Beijing’s hutongs, and the development of Tongzhou as the city’s sub-center, it represents China’s practical achievements in sustainable urban development.

Building a New Learning Model in Line with National Strategies

Since its launch in May 2024, the course has drawn over 100 international students from 14 countries, including Russia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Yemen, for both long-term and short-term programs. Participants specialize in diverse fields such as civil engineering and environmental science, representing 12 universities and research institutions at home and abroad, including Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, St Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering in Russia, Industrial University of Tyumen in Russia, Moscow State University of Civil Engineering in Russia, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beihang University, North China Electric Power University, Central University of Finance and Economics, North China University of Technology, Capital Medical University, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, and Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

Led by the course team, students engage in site visits to typical sponge city infrastructure such as rain gardens on the campus and bio-retention facilities, as well as immersive learning experiences at Beijing’s Green Heart Park in the city’s sub-center. Through the ten themed sessions and field research, students gain in-depth knowledge of China’s sponge city development, including the national conditions, principles, ideas, and methods, as well as essential aspects of sponge city project planning, design, construction, assessment, and operation.

The successful inclusion of the “China Sponge City” Course is a demonstration of BUCEA’s high-quality education for international students and fruitful results in global exchanges, marking a milestone achievement in our innovative practice in international education.

In the future, the course will be showcased in the national exhibition of the first batch of outstanding education programs on China’s national conditions for international students. Meanwhile, it will be featured on the Smart Education of China (International Version) platform for global promotion as a core general education course for international students at BUCEA.

In 2025, BUCEA has been approved to launch the “Walking and Exploring along the Central Axis: Unveiling the Ancient Beijing’s Backbone” project.

Annex:

Course Website: https://mooc1.chaoxing.com/course-ans/ps/246519881

Relevant Links:

1.Vice President LI Junqi Attends Opening Ceremony of “China Sponge City” Education Program on China’s National Conditions for International Students and Gives a Lecture: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cSbXF42t_uSLq-z5QfUcWg

2. Second Session of “China Sponge City” Training Camp – “Sponge City Construction and Combined Sewer Overflow Pollution Control” Successfully Held: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mgpY33M-72Iiy6tBzxw24w

3. Third Session of “China Sponge City” Training Camp – Professor WANG Jianlong’s Lecture on “Sponge City Planning and Design Theory and Practice: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/beO58Z2Q2Gx3GipuSXEZZQ

4. Fourth Session of “China Sponge City” Training Camp – Smart Stormwater Management in China: Visiting Old City Stormwater Projects: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ruct1Mm5gCXEkLEVZobRxA

5. Discussing Sponge Cities in the Summer Heat: A Fun and Enriching Experience in Education Program on China’s National Conditions: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VofxpCCMS2OAaQJuB5qj4g

6. Sponge City Construction, Urban Drainage and Flood Control: Visiting the Old City Water System in Beijing: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/wTsiRAvX17XooH1nIBUXOQ

7. Eighth Session of “China Sponge City” Training Camp – Associate Professor XUE Zhonghua’s Lecture on “Sponge City Construction Evaluation System and Effectiveness”: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Q_Kikn1x9Fylzr117kVZ2Q

8. Ninth Session of “China Sponge City” Training Camp – Green Infrastructure Planning and Design of Sponge City: Visiting Beijing Olympic Park: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tSl6pM94Kwzz5Xy8yQxrsA

9. “China Sponge City” Training Camp Graduation Ceremony and Tenth Session – Practical Achievements of Sponge City Construction in Pilot Cities: Beijing Sub-Center (Tongzhou): https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aeJE1eg5FuMB-3E-6ZcR7Q