The Urban Land Institute (ULI) is proud to announce the launch of UrbanPlan in India, expanding this impactful programme across the Asia Pacific region.
During a three-day inaugural workshop in Delhi, nearly 90 senior leaders, corporate changemakers and urban innovators gathered to rethink urban regeneration. Together, they unlocked deeper thinking, learnt fresh approaches, and co-created their vision of a thriving city for urban living.
UrbanPlan offers an immersive, hands-on exercise that places high school and university students, along with community members, in the role of developers for a day. Working in teams, participants grapple with a fun and challenging hypothetical development scenario that balances city goals, community needs, urban design, environmental impact, and financial viability.
UrbanPlan is designed to foster silo-busting collaboration, strategic thinking, communication, negotiation, and leadership skills—all essential for gaining a more complete understanding of the fundamental forces shaping the built environment.
“UrbanPlan is not just a workshop; it’s a catalyst for change,” said Connie Cheng, Programme Director of UrbanPlan Asia Pacific. “Since its inception in Hong Kong, UrbanPlan has engaged over 3,000 participants in Asia Pacific—including China, India, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, and Singapore—and over 82,000 participants globally.
“This meaningful programme is made possible by the philanthropic support of ULI members through major gifts and Annual Fund contributions. Since its launch in the United States in 2001, and its subsequent rollout in Europe in 2014 and Asia Pacific in 2018, UrbanPlan has transformed young people’s understanding of the built environment.”
Alan Beebe, Chief Executive of ULI Asia Pacific, emphasised the programme’s significance. “The future of cities will be shaped by those who create or change the built environment. ULI is committed to diversifying the voices in this space by educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders through opportunities for learning, networking, and mentorship. By equipping student teams with the tools to think critically about urban issues, we empower them to address today’s challenges and shape tomorrow’s cities. We are deeply grateful to partners like Hines for their trust and support in realising our vision for a more collaborative and innovative approach to corporate team-building and enhancing communication.”
Amit Diwan, Senior Managing Director, Head of India at Hines, said, “UrbanPlan plays a pivotal role in cultivating the next generation of developers and real estate professionals by fostering collaboration and encouraging meaningful engagement. The programme has a tangible impact on industry leaders, town planners, and students. By introducing them to UrbanPlan, we aim to inspire participants, connect students with career-ready opportunities, and highlight the importance of community-informed development in India and across the region.”
Manasvini Hariharan, Director of ULI India, commented, “UrbanPlan is a high-impact programme that advances our mission priority to educate the next generation of leaders—from schools to universities and professionals at every level. Our corporate workshop model immerses teams in the developers’ journeys, helping them grasp the complexities involved in urban bids while enhancing their critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills through hands-on simulations.
“With India still under 50% urbanised, UrbanPlan offers a unique opportunity for policymakers to make informed decisions, ultimately advancing our mission to strengthen capacity in city planning and real estate development.”
Within Asia Pacific, the UrbanPlan programme is currently active in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and now India.
