Cambridge top architect Francois Penz relocates to China from UK
After 45 years at Cambridge, a leading interdisciplinary architect moves to China's National Leading Talent Programme.
Francois Penz, the former head of the Department of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and a renowned pioneer in the interdisciplinary study of architecture and film, has relocated to China for a full-time academic role. After a distinguished 45-year career at Cambridge, where he served as Director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies and led the Design, Visualisation and Communication Digital Laboratory, Penz has been appointed by the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University. The university announced his appointment via social media on March 17, 2026.
Penz's move is underpinned by his selection for China's prestigious National Leading Talent Programme in 2025, a high-level initiative designed to attract world-class experts. Born in France and educated at Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Penz had collaborated with Nanjing University for years prior to this permanent shift. This recruitment represents a significant gain for China's academic and research landscape in architecture and urban planning, highlighting the country's focused strategy to integrate leading international scholars into its universities.
- Francois Penz concluded a 45-year career at Cambridge University to join Nanjing University full-time.
- He was selected for China's National Leading Talent Programme in 2025, a key recruitment initiative.
- Penz is a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of architecture and film, directing major research centers at Cambridge.
Why It Matters
Highlights China's strategic push to attract top-tier global academic talent, shifting intellectual capital in key fields like urban design.