Building upon the Memorandum of Understanding formalized on 4th July 2023 between the University of Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA) and the University of Hong Kong’s Division of Landscape Architecture, Dr Linda Shetabi, Director of the MSc Conservation Programme, was awarded an Honorary Research Fellowship at the University of Liverpool on 23rd June 2025 for three years. This appointment strengthens the collaborative framework of the MoU, promoting enhanced academic staff exchange and the pursuit of joint funding opportunities, while supporting Dr Shetabi’s research on heritage conservation policy in urban planning and sustainable development in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.
Dr Shetabi visited the University of Liverpool during June and July, engaging with faculty and members of the ArCHIAM team to strategize and plan forthcoming knowledge exchange and international training workshops. During her visit, she had a guided tour of ʻWork in Detailʼ, LSA’s 2025 End of Year Showcase, and learned about the pedagogical practices of heritage-focused design studios.
Through this fellowship, Dr Shetabi joins Liverpool School of Architecture’s ArCHIAM team, with which she has been collaborating since 2021 in knowledge exchange initiatives. Notably, in the summer of 2024, she led the University of Liverpool-funded Summer Heritage Research Internship at HKU’s Built Heritage Research Collaborative (BHRC). This gave five BA3 students from LSA’s RE-heritage Studio the opportunity to undertake research and documentation activities of the historic villages at Danba, in Mainland China. Through a combination of desk and field activities, interns learnt about tools and techniques for built heritage research and documentation, heritage classification systems and traditional construction practices.
Dr Shetabi said: “Dr Giamila Quattrone’s leadership has been vital in securing competitive funding and fostering sustained teaching and research collaborations. Her ongoing involvement in the MSc Conservation Programme facilitates new international practical training opportunities, aligning closely with HKU’s strategic vision as Asia’s global university and the Faculty of Architecture’s multidisciplinary approach to space, place, and the cultural practices that both shape and are shaped by human experiences.”
This fellowship crucially contributes to operationalising the partnership between the University of Liverpool and Hong Kong University, reinforcing the role of both institutions in advancing global dialogues and innovative research at the nexus of architecture, cultural heritage, and sustainable urban futures.
All Images: Martin Winchester, LSA