On December 24, 2016, the Institute for Urban Risk Management of Tongji University (hereinafter referred to as the “URMI”) held the first conference of the Council. A total of 31 people, including board members and representatives, liaisons and personnel from relevant entities, attended the conference.


The construction goals in the next five years and the major tasks for the URMI have been clarified.


It is expected that the URMI should rely on Tongji University’s own rich academic and management resources, and strive to build a talent training base as a high-end think tank, communication platform and transformation carrier for the urban risk management sector. Likewise, with the support of the relevant ministries of the State and all other aspects of Shanghai, this talent training base should have a unique influence nationwide and even worldwide over a period of five years.


It is also expected that as the URMI is based in Shanghai, it should offer its services to the whole country and even have them extended to the whole world. Regarding the actual needs of urban risk management and urban development related key issues, the URMI is required to carry out cutting-edge researches on urban development, urban management, risk management and control and other related fields, as well as to explore and seek new theories and new ways for all levels of government and all sectors of the community to complete major tasks and challenges related to urban risk, so as to provide innovative ideas, technical support and efficient solutions.


Main tasks for the URMI in 2017 are discussed at the conference.
The first is to undertake research subjects. The annual plan is to undertake about 20 to 25 subjects of all categories, focusing on those subjects at the national, provincial and ministerial levels.
The second is to build the core brand of the URMI. The risk early warning index should be researched and developed, and the risk identification system should be built for the urban operation sector.


The third is to promote the transformation of research results. It is expected to promote the transformation of a batch of subjects, and select a number of pilot projects for risk management, forming a practical model which can be replicated.

The fourth is to set up “Urban risk management” course for training a number of multi-level and practical talents for urban risk management. Likewise, it is required to accumulate experience and establish a solid foundation for Tongji University to set up a major in “Urban risk management”.
The fifth is to hold the second session of the International Forum on Urban Risk Management and some symposiums, so as to provide a communication platform for the development of theories and practices for urban risk management.

The sixth is to improve the organization and team building. Rules and regulations should be gradually stipulated for setting up the Council, the Expert Committee, the Administration Office, the Financial Department, the HR Department, the Liaison Department and other various systems, so as to standardize the operation.

It is agreed that the member of the URMI Council should be composed of 11 units, including Tongji University. Mr. Fang Shouen, Deputy Party Secretary of Tongji University, was elected as the Chairman of the Council, and Mr. Sun Jianping, Dean of the URMI, was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Council. The meeting was presided by the chairman Fang Shouen, who also listened to the report of the establishment of the URMI Council, the Constitution of the URMI, the 2017 Work Plan for the URMI, the 2017 Financial Budget of the URMI, the Scheme for Setting up the URMI Expert Committee, the Charter of the URMI Expert Committee, the Summary of 2016 International Forum on Urban Risk Management, as well as the report on the appointment of personnel and the establishment of organizations related in the URMI. The directors and representatives discussed, amended, reviewed and approved the relevant documents at the meeting after their careful study.