The School of Urban and Regional Planning networks with public and private organizations at the international, national, provincial, and municipal levels.
Our international connections are fostered by the China Projects Office, and the Ambassadors’ Forum. Our students also have opportunities for international projects, internships, and exchanges.
Our National Executive Forum on Public Property networks senior real property managers at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
The connects private sector real estate executives and advisors.
The School of Urban and Regional Planning includes the Ambassadors' Forum. Created in 2003, this Forum brings together ambassadors to Canada from 20 Asia-Pacific countries, who meet every three months for discussion with thoughtful and informed Canadians on current affairs topics. The countries represented include, alphabetically, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The Forum broadens the internationalization efforts of the University. During term time two SURP students are invited to participate in each of the sessions.
Further Information: Ambassadors' Forum
The School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) has extensive and ongoing research and training programs/projects with the People's Republic of China. The China Projects Office, located within the School of Urban and Regional Planning, coordinates these activities. The following are the main projects administered by the China Projects Office:
- Training for Officials from China’s Ministry of Natural Resources
- Chinese Government Officials Internship Program
- Student Summer Internships in Beijing
- Chinese Visiting Scholars
Further Information: China Projects Office
The School of Urban and Regional Planning is also the home of the National Executive Forum on Public Property. Created in 1998 (formerly known as the Queen's Land Forum), it has become the premier organization for senor executives in public property management at all three levels of government across Canada.
The purpose of the Forum is to provide a neutral venue for senior executives to share visions, problems, experiences and best practices, backed up by intelligence and research. It holds a conference and retreat annually, and funds specific research projects (past ones included benchmarking, RFP practice, aboriginal land issues, outsourcing of property services, and property maintenance funding). The Forum is self-financed and employs an Executive Director/Convener and an Administration & Event Coordinator.
The Forum gives the School a high profile among managers of public land and property, and they have been an important source of our graduate student internship placements, especially their dedicated positions for our students. We are the only planning school in Canada, if not North America, that has more than a foothold at the federal level. Other benefits for the School have included financial support for workshop projects, research assistantships, and research funding.
Further Information: National Executive Forum on Public Property