Hong Kong [14 May 2025] — 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.

Transform young lives through ULI UrbanPlan and fulfil professional development—while having fun with Legos!

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.”

“UrbanPlan is a high impact programmee that advances our mission priority to educate the next generation of leaders—from schools to universities and professionals at every level,” said Manasvini Hariharan, Director of ULI India. “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.”

In Asia Pacific, the UrbanPlan programme is currently active in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and now India. For more information on how to engage with UrbanPlan in your community, either as a ULI member volunteer, school or organisation, please visit https://asia.uli.org/programs/urbanplan/ or email [email protected].

ENDS 

Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Priscilla Tong, Director of Communications, ULI Asia Pacific: [email protected]

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 48,000 members worldwide and over 3,000 members in the Asia Pacific region representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information on ULI Asia Pacific, please visit asia.uli.org, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

About UrbanPlan
UrbanPlan is Urban Land Institute’s signature education initiative, aiming to further ULI’s mission of providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. UrbanPlan is a realistic, hands-on simulation in which participants—high school students, university students, or public officials—learn about the fundamental forces that affect urban development in our communities. Through experiential learning, students utilise creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and public speaking skills, to name a few. The challenge invites teams to formulate a placemaking vision and propose solutions for creating vibrant and accessible urban neighbourhoods that are both socially desirable and economically viable. For more information on how to engage with UrbanPlan in your community, either as a ULI member volunteer, school or organisation, please visit https://asia.uli.org/programs/urbanplan/ or email [email protected].