The Forum on Innovative Design for Young Scholars was held in Pingshan District, Shenzhen from October 24 to 25. The forum was supported by China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), Shenzhen Association for Science and Technology (SZSTA), and Association for Science and Technology of Shenzhen University. It was hosted by Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) and organized by its College of Creative Design, International Cooperation and Student Affairs Office, and Scientific Research and University-Enterprise Cooperation Office.

The Forum on Innovative Design for Young Scholars is successfully held. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

This forum attracted many experts and scholars from professional organizations and leading universities. Representatives from well-known companies such as Tencent, BYD, Foxconn, China General Nuclear Power Corporation, CIGA Design and Shenzhen Grandsun Electronic Co., Ltd. also participated in the forum at the invitation of SZTU.

On the morning of October 24, the forum was grandly opened, witnessed by Prof. Ruan Shuangchen, president of SZTU; Lin Xiang, secretary of party leadership group of SZSTA; Li Guangming, president of Shenzhen Pingshan Overseas Friendship Association; Lu Zhengqun, executive vice president and secretary-general of Shenzhen Taiwan Business Association; Prof. Yu Suihuai, vice president of China Industrial Design Association and professor of Northwestern Polytechnical University; Prof. Chen Jiang, dean of School of Industrial Design, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; Prof. Zhang Zhiqing, dean of Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST); and Prof. Po-Hsun Wang, associate dean of Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau (CityU Macau). An online parallel session was also set up in Hong Kong, joined by experts including Dewitt Chik, president of Low Carbon Design Society of Hong Kong; Yang Jingxin, president of Hong Kong Multimedia Design Association; and HK designer Carter Wong.

Prof. Ruan Shuangchen delivers a speech at the opening ceremony. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Ruan Shuangchen delivered a speech. He warmly welcomed the guests, experts and scholars coming from afar. He pointed out that the design industry is one of Shenzhen’s pillar industries. SZTU established College of Creative Design to meet the huge demand for creative design talents in Shenzhen and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It currently offers two majors—industrial design and environmental design. Since its foundation, it has already cooperated with many overseas universities and its teachers and students have won numerous awards at home and abroad. He encouraged the young scholars present to make efforts to build Shenzhen as a city of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with global influence.

Mr. Lin Xiang speaks highly of the forum. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

Lin Xiang, secretary of party leadership group of SZSTA, stated in his speech that Shenzhen has a global influence in the design industry. This forum will provide an exchange platform for young talents across the country, contributing to the economic and social development, which is of great significance for enhancing the innovative design capacity of young talents in China.

SZTU exchanges cooperation agreement and letter of intent with MUST and CityU Macau  respectively. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

[Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

The forum also marked a special moment for SZTU because it enjoyed two new partner universities. At the opening ceremony, Prof. Zhang Zhiqing from MUST signed the cooperation agreement with Prof. Liu Shengyuan, dean of College of Creative Design of SZTU. Prof. Po-Hsun Wang from CityU Macau exchanged the letter of intent with Zeng Siyu, head of International Cooperation and Student Affairs Office of SZTU.

Prof. Liu Shengyuan says College of Creative Design trains young talents to meet the demand of the industry. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

After the opening ceremony, some guests made reports on multiple topics including design discipline, corporate brand innovation, design talent training, industry upgrading needs, construction strategy in the Greater Bay Area, talent training at universities of applied sciences, and design with informatization and intelligence. Prof. Liu Shengyuan introduced in detail specialty setup, faculty, enrollment scale and other basic information about College of Creative Design in his report. He believes that design is one of the professions closest to changing the world and can make people’s lives more civilized and much happier.

Experts and scholars make reports. [Photo/Party Affairs Committee Publicity Office]

The forum featured some parallel sessions on October 25. Representatives and scholars from more than 30 universities made reports on innovative design and corporate transformation, innovative design and human factors engineering, environment and sustainable design, experience and service design, corporate design management, innovative design education, etc. In the afternoon, the guests visited SZTU and world-renowned companies that originated in Shenzhen such as BYD, Yeefung Technology, and Grandsun.

Tips: (Some information below is cited from the official websites of MUST and CityU Macau.)

Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) is the first international comprehensive research university established after Macau’s return to its motherland and the first university in Macau to enter the world’s top 300. Currently, there are over 1,400 faculty members and more than 14,000 students enrolled at the University, including 4,700 master and doctoral students and 9,300 undergraduate students. As of today, MUST owns the following faculties/departments: Faculty of Information Technology, School of Business, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Faculty of Medicine, University International College, School of Pharmacy, School of Liberal Arts and the Department of General Education, providing a wide range of courses, including social sciences, science, law, management, business, medicine, pharmacy, tourism, art, communications and language.

The City University of Macau (CityU Macau) now has nearly 6,000 students. It has 10 faculties/schools and offers 9 Bachelor’s Degree programs, 16 Master’s Degree programs and 12 Doctoral Degree programs, including nearly 40 Chinese and English programs. It is a member of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance, World Interpreter and Translator Training Association (WITTA), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media (Cumulus), Transport Decarbonization Alliance (TDA), Association of Universities of Portuguese Language (AULP), and Asian Planning Schools Association (APSA).

Drafted by Daisy（姚琦）/ International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office

Edited by International Cooperation & Student Affairs Office