Shenzhen, China: The Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS) is a comprehensive urban planning and design company with 400 employees. As the first planning institute in Shenzhen, UPDIS has helped guide the city’s development as it grew from 200,000 people 30 years ago to an estimated 16 million people today. About 40% of our projects are in Shenzhen (China’s first Special Economic Zone, just across the border from Hong Kong), with 60% elsewhere in China. Projects have ranged from regional planning and long range comprehensive planning, to statutory planning and detailed urban design projects to sector specific projects such as power supply and underground space planning.

The Internship: As almost all of our employees are Chinese educated in China, we desire fresh outlooks on strategies and designs that improve cities and enhance the quality of life for their citizens. The projects the intern will be involved in will depend upon the interests and skills of the student—but may involve urban design, research into best practices, master planning…

Qualifications and Requirements:
Academic: Student in a master’s level urban planning-related program, or final year of a 5-year undergraduate bachelor/master’s program. Urban Design, Architecture, or Landscape Architecture concentrations and design skills much preferred. Must be continuing student (non-graduated) at time of internship.
Language skills: English or Chinese.
Computer software: Photoshop or Illustrator required. AutoCAD and SketchUp a plus.
Portfolio: Format of your choosing. Include note defining your interests.

Salary: 3000 yuan/month (~US$ 500, paid in Chinese yuan) + housing and weekday meals (lunch/dinner). Flight to/from China not included.
Start of Internship: May-June 2015
Application Deadline: April 02, 2015
Duration: 2-4 months