This weekend, the University of Waterloo will host it's 127th convocation. Each year, the university awards over 7,380 bachelor's degrees, 2,130 master's degrees, and 350 doctoral degrees, demonstrating the profound impact of our academic programs and the dedication of our students.

The completion of any degree takes dedication, commitment and perseverance. Completing a doctoral degree in particular requires you to go beyond deepening your knowledge and understanding of existing research. Instead, you are becoming an expert in a subject area and producing new, original research in your field of study.

Included in the list of doctoral graduandsis Chen Yang, who will receive his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Planning. 

Chen joined the School of Planning after completing his Master of Engineering at Xi’an Jiaotong University. After completing his Master of Arts in Planning in 2019, he continued his education in the doctoral program under the supervision of Dr. Joe Qian. His research focused on a number of areas including:

  • Rural-to-urban resettlement and urbanization in China
  • Inclusive development
  • Urban informality
  • Gentrification and redevelopment
  • Urban form and land use planning
  • GIS-based decision-making and spatial analysis
  • Multiple Criteria Decision Making
  • Space Syntax
Chen Yang

Chen has published in several academic journals including the Journal of Urban Affairs, Urban Geography, Applied Geography and Land Use Policy. After graduation, Chen is looking forward to travelling to China to visit his family. 

From the School of Planning and the Faculty of Environment, congratulations Dr. Chen Yang!