The Department of Architecture at Ming Chuan University has long been committed to promoting internationalized education and aligning academic instruction with professional practice. In addition to organizing international master lectures and overseas field study programs—where students engage in coursework and competitions abroad—the department continues to invite renowned architects from around the world to serve as Visiting Professors, actively participating in design instruction and studio mentorship. These efforts aim to broaden students’ global perspectives and enhance their hands-on abilities.
Currently contributing to the department’s teaching team are several prominent international figures: Professor Kenichi Tanoue from Kyushu University, Japan, who specializes in urban design and landscape planning; and Nobuyuki Sekiguchi, head of Van Collar Architects, who has collaborated with the department for years on 1:1 construction projects and internship programs in Japan. In 2025, the department proudly welcomes a distinguished new addition—Roberto Bannura, Partner and Asia Director of Steven Holl Architects—who joins as a Visiting Professor.
Bannura brings extensive international experience, having worked in the United States for many years before joining Steven Holl Architects in 2007. As head of the firm’s Asia operations, Bannura has led major projects including Raffles City Chengdu, the Carbon Cloud Headquarters in Shenzhen, the CIFI International Office Complex in Beijing, the COFCO Nanfeng Peninsula Culture and Sports Center and Health Service Hub in Shanghai, among others. His portfolio spans office buildings, cultural and educational institutions, urban planning, and sustainable infrastructure across Mainland China, Taiwan, Russia, Australia, and the Middle East. Bannura will participate in course instruction and workshop development, and will play a key role in advancing industry-academic collaboration across Asia, providing students with direct access to global professional practices.
Associate Professor Chih-Yu Lee, who oversees international exchange and internship programs, emphasized:
“International education extends students’ horizons, offering them diverse and expansive opportunities for both learning and practice. Architectural education should not be confined to classrooms and drawings—it should enable students to actively participate in shaping the world.”
Further strengthening its global outlook, the Department of Architecture signed a dual master’s degree agreement in early 2025 with the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). This partnership paves a pathway for students to pursue graduate studies abroad and earn internationally recognized degrees, enhancing their global competitiveness.
By advancing both academic and structural initiatives, Ming Chuan University’s Department of Architecture aims to build a robust international learning ecosystem—one that empowers students with cross-cultural design capabilities and global mobility, preparing them for the evolving challenges of the architectural profession.