On August 28, 2025, Professor Michael Scott, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) of the University of Warwick, led a delegation to visit the Department of Arts and Design at the University of Macau (UM). The delegation also included Professor Sai Gu, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (East Asia and Southeast Asia), and Ms. Emily Lim, Associate Director (Asia, Americas & Middle East), International Strategy and Relations. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two universities in the fields of arts education, design research, and the humanities, while exploring opportunities for establishing a long-term partnership.
During the visit, the delegation toured the Department’s exhibition spaces, specialized laboratories, and student workshops, gaining a detailed understanding of the curriculum and teaching characteristics. They also engaged with student projects firsthand, showcasing innovative thinking and the integration of multicultural perspectives. The Warwick delegation expressed strong interest in the Department’s creative outcomes and actively interacted with faculty members, fostering an inspiring and lively atmosphere.
At the subsequent meeting, Prof. Victoria Lei, Associate Dean for Student Affairs of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, delivered an in-depth presentation to the visiting delegation. She outlined the Faculty’s historical development, academic structure, talent cultivation model, and international collaborations. Prof. Lei particularly emphasized the Faculty’s achievements in advancing interdisciplinary teaching, promoting international exchange, and nurturing globally minded and versatile talent. She noted that the Faculty not only pursues academic depth and breadth but also attaches great importance to students’ holistic development, offering diverse internship opportunities, overseas exchange programs, and extensive networks with world-renowned universities to build a broad and dynamic platform for student growth.
Following this, Professor Li Jun, Head of the Department of Arts and Design, warmly welcomed the Warwick delegation. He highlighted Warwick’s outstanding reputation in the global academic community and noted that the visit not only created a new bridge for cooperation but also opened opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue in the fields of arts and design. Professor Li then provided a comprehensive introduction to the Department’s educational philosophy, curriculum framework, and developmental goals. He stressed that since its establishment, the Department has been committed to integrating arts education with design practice. Its programs cover art history, design theory, creative practice, digital media, and interdisciplinary studies, aiming to cultivate professionals with strong humanistic literacy, innovative thinking, and international vision. He further noted that the Department’s faculty team is composed of scholars with diverse academic backgrounds in art theory, digital media, cultural heritage, and innovative design, enriching both its teaching and research capacity.
In his remarks, Professor Michael Scott emphasized that Macao has historically served as a vital hub for East-West cultural exchange, providing a unique environment for arts education and cultural research. He stated: “We are deeply impressed by the innovative practices demonstrated by the Department of Arts and Design in a multicultural context. This visit marks not only the beginning of deeper collaboration between our two institutions but also an important opportunity to advance international academic exchange. We hope to explore further possibilities in student exchange, research collaboration, and artistic innovation, achieving mutual benefit and shared growth.”
Professor Sai Gu noted that the University of Warwick places great importance on building strong networks in East and Southeast Asia, with UM playing a significant role in regional and international academic exchanges. He remarked: “We look forward to engaging in deeper cross-cultural design collaborations with UM, and through joint exhibitions, research projects, and academic conferences, we hope to foster sustained dialogue between Eastern and Western scholarship and the arts.”
Ms. Emily Lim shared Warwick’s experience in advancing international strategy and cooperation. She emphasized: “Our two institutions can jointly establish forward-looking platforms for collaboration in areas such as student exchange, joint curriculum development, digital humanities research, and design innovation, thereby fostering more diverse and sustainable models of academic exchange.”
Professor Zhou Hongtao from our department visited the University of Warwick in June this year and reached a mutual cooperation intention. During the meeting, he expressed his gratitude for the warm reception by the University of Warwick, and looked forward to reuniting at the University of Macau in November to further advance and deepen the collaboration.
After a series of discussions, both sides agreed that the visit not only enhanced mutual understanding but also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation. Moving forward, the University of Macau and the University of Warwick plan to carry out practical collaboration in areas such as student exchange, joint curriculum development, international academic conferences, and cross-cultural design research. Together, the two institutions aim to promote the internationalization and diversified development of arts, design, and humanities education, contributing to global cultural exchange and innovative education.
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