---
title: "Cambridge architecture scholar François Penz joins Nanjing University in China"
date: 2026-03-28
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/03/28/francois-penz-nanjing-university-cambridge/
categories:
  - "Politics"
  - "Science"
  - "World"
tags:
  - "architecture"
  - "Architecture and film"
  - "François Penz"
  - "Nanjing University"
  - "University of Cambridge"
  - "urban planning"
---

# Cambridge architecture scholar François Penz joins Nanjing University in China

François Penz, a prominent architect and academic known for bridging architecture with film and interdisciplinary study, has relocated from the United Kingdom to take up a full-time position at Nanjing University in China, according to the university’s announcement.

## What Happened

Nanjing University’s School of Architecture and Urban Planning said it has appointed François Penz on a full-time basis. The announcement was posted on the university’s social media account on March 17.

Penz, who is described as an emeritus professor at the University of Cambridge, previously served as head of the architecture department and as a former director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies. He is also noted as a fellow of Darwin…

His move marks a transition from his established academic roles in the UK to a new long-term appointment in China’s university sector, where architecture education and research are increasingly connected with global scholarly networks.

## Background

François Penz is widely associated with work that extends beyond traditional architectural education. The source describes him as a pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of architecture and film—an approach that applies visual storytelling methods and media perspectives to the way architecture is studied, represented, and understood.

At Cambridge, Penz is linked to leadership positions across architecture and urban studies. As former director of The Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies, his work sits at the intersection of design practice, academic research, and the analysis of how cities evolve.

At Nanjing University, the appointment lands within the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, a unit positioned to influence training of future architects as well as research priorities related to urban development, built heritage, and the theory and practice of design. While the announcement provides limited detail on the specific role he will play day to day, it makes clear the university intends to integrate him as a full-time member of its academic structure.

## Why It Matters

International academic appointments can have an outsize impact on research direction and student development, particularly in fields like architecture where methods, cultural context, and cross-disciplinary approaches shape how new generations learn to think. Penz’s background—combining architecture, urban studies, and film—suggests Nanjing University may strengthen connections between built-environment scholarship and media-based or narrative-driven ways of interpreting space.

For readers in Panama and across Latin America, the story reflects a broader global pattern: universities increasingly recruit established international scholars to deepen expertise and expand research networks. As Latin American architecture schools and urban planning programs look to global partnerships, high-profile moves such as this one help illustrate where cross-disciplinary architectural scholarship is heading.

The appointment is also a signal of the continued circulation of academic talent between Europe and Asia. With architecture education tied to long-term cultural and urban priorities, these moves can influence academic collaborations, visiting programs, and the themes that attract funding and attention—outcomes that can eventually ripple into international conferences and publication channels relevant to the region.

For now, the key confirmed development is straightforward: François Penz, an emeritus professor at the University of Cambridge and a figure associated with interdisciplinary architecture and film, has joined Nanjing University on a full-time basis after his UK career, with the appointment publicly announced by the Chinese institution.