The President of Tsinghua University in Beijing visits the Mendrisio Campus

On Thursday, 18 January, a delegation from Tsinghua University in Beijing, led by President Li Luming, visited the Mendrisio Campus. They were received by a delegation from Università della Svizzera italiana, which included Rector Luisa Lambertini, Director of the Academy of Architecture Walter Angonese, Pro-rector for Internationalisation Cesare Alippi, Pro-rector for Education and Students' Experience Gabriele Balbi, and Head of the International Relations and Mobility Service, Arianna Imberti Dosi.

This encounter stemmed from the interest shown by the Chinese delegation in the Academy of Architecture, which had already welcomed a delegation from the Faculty of Architecture of Tsinghua University last November, and the Ticino university system in general. Tsinghua University in Beijing was founded in 1911; it currently has 21 schools and 59 departments, with approximately 60,000 students, 3800 lecturers and 2800 researchers. It is at the top of the academic rankings in Asia Pacific for quality of research and education and is considered among the best universities in the world. The Campus, located on the former site of the imperial gardens from the Qing era, also houses the Art Museum and the Library of Humanities and Social Sciences, which were designed by Ticino architect Mario Botta, founder of the Academy of Architecture.

During the meeting, Università della Svizzera italiana and the activities of the Academy of Architecture were presented and the possibility of establishing exchange and mobility programmes between the two universities was discussed.

During the institutional visit, the Chinese delegation visited Palazzo Turconi including the new Library of the Academy of Architecture, Palazzo Canavée and Teatro dell'architettura.