To promote the high-quality development of Construction and Engineering Management programs and strengthen academic exchange and cooperation among universities in the Yangtze River Delta region, Don Ward, Chief Executive Officer of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), was invited by Professor Guangbin Wang of the School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, to visit Tongji University and deliver a special academic seminar on December 6, 2025. Ms. Tianyan Wu, Vice Dean of our university, actively coordinated with multiple universities across the Yangtze River Delta and sincerely invited directors of Construction Management programs from various institutions to gather for in-depth discussion. The seminar focused on key issues in disciplinary development and pooled collective wisdom for advancing the construction management profession. Teachers Ting Wang and Hui He from the Department of Construction Management of our university were also invited to attend the seminar and delivered insightful reports and speeches.

At the seminar, Don Ward presented a keynote lecture entitled “CIB: Improving the Impact of Research Globally.” Drawing on CIB’s global practices in construction research and innovation, he systematically analyzed pathways for enhancing the international influence of academic research, shared cutting-edge trends and development opportunities in the global construction management field, and provided valuable international perspectives for the participating universities.

During the exchange session, directors of Construction Management programs from Tongji University, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai University, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai Jianqiao University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and Jiaxing University introduced the disciplinary features, development achievements, and future plans of their respective institutions. In-depth discussions were conducted on curriculum system optimization, industry–university–research integration, and talent cultivation innovation, generating lively academic exchanges. Ms. Ting Wang, Director of the Department of Construction and Engineering Management of our university, delivered a comprehensive presentation based on the discipline’s actual development, showcasing our university’s achievements and strategic thinking in this field.

At the conclusion of the seminar, all participants took a group photo to commemorate the successful completion of this high-quality academic exchange.