Abstract：Urban design, with its inherent features of integration and coordination, significantly influences the development
and enhancement of high-quality living environments in urban spaces. Regrettably, the establishment and growth of urban
design professional education in our nation has been relatively recent and is currently confronted with challenges including
ambiguous educational objectives, inconsistent systems, and disparate standards. The specialized urban design teaching within
the Architecture School of South China University of Technology capitalizes on the strengths of traditional architectural
disciplines. It emphasizes the holistic cultivation of students’ ideological and political awareness, global perspective,
specialized knowledge, and innovative abilities. Over more than two decades, the school has innovatively constructed
a high-caliber teaching framework, following the reform path of ‘expanding professional foundation’ and ‘stepping up
practical research’, and adopting the teaching model of ‘high-end international collaboration + interdisciplinary cooperation
+ integration of research and production + integration of undergraduate and graduate education.’ This article delves into the
specific goals and systems of the urban design teaching reform at the South China University of Technology, the development
of courses, the distinguishing features and pioneering aspects of the reform, the strategic blueprint for reform, and the
outcomes of its implementation. The aim is to offer valuable insights and reference points for reforming urban design
courses, contributing to the broader field of architectural education.
