On October 28, Yu Jianyong, President of Donghua University (DHU), met with Professor Ken Neil, Vice President of the Royal College of Art (RCA), at Yan’an Road Campus. They had in-depth discussions on deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two sides. Vice President Chen Ge, along with officials from International Cooperation Office, the Development and Liaison Office, and the Development Planning Office of DHU, accompanied the meeting.
During the meeting, Yu Jianyong reviewed the progress of collaboration between the two institutions and expressed his expectations for future joint initiatives with the RCA. With the growing demand for high-end design talent in emerging markets like China, the RCA stands out for its advanced educational concepts and quality resources. It is particularly recognized as a model for cultivating innovative talent through interdisciplinary approaches and integrating education with industry to drive practical outcomes. Both DHU and the RCA aim to strengthen mutual exchange and collaboration, accelerating the implementation of collaborative plans.
Ken Neil introduced the RCA’s international development strategy and shared the new leadership’s ideas and plans for expanding collaborative education programs in China. He highlighted that collaboration with DHU is a vital part of the RCA’s international development strategy. Meanwhile, he expressed a strong interest in building a sustainable partnership between both sides, aiming for practical and effective collaboration in areas such as high-end educational training, joint laboratory establishment, technology commercialization, and industry consulting services.
Before the meeting, Ken Neil visited several technology innovation and cultural exchange platforms affiliated with DHU and praised the university’s achievements in interdisciplinary research, talent development, and technological innovation.
(Ken Neil’s visit to Burberry)
During his stay in Shanghai, Ken Neil also visited Chinese institutions such as the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and Shanghai Jinqiao Group Company, to discuss and promote cooperation matters. He also visited the Burberry China headquarters to explore the achievements of DHU×Burberry China Collaborative Project.