November 7, 2005, to promote global academic exchange and foster a new landscape for international art and design education collaboration, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Macau held its first parallel forum on art and design under the framework of the “UM Global Academic Symposium.” Centered on the theme “New Opportunities in International Art and Design Education,” the forum brought together scholars, designers, artists, and education administrators from renowned universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, South Korea, Singapore, and other regions to explore innovative pathways and future directions for art and design education in the context of globalization.
As one of the University of Macau’s newest and most rapidly growing academic disciplines, the Department of Arts and Design has achieved remarkable progress over the past two years, making breakthroughs in curriculum development, faculty structure, international collaboration, and academic achievements. This forum not only showcased these preliminary results but also extended an invitation for collaboration to the global art and design community, aiming to deepen exchanges in research, creative practice, teaching, and innovative initiatives.
The opening ceremony of the forum featured video speeches by University of Macau Rector Yonghua Song, Rhode Island School of Design President Emerita Rosanne Somerson, Shanghai University of Engineering Science President Yongqi Lou, and Nanjing University of the Arts President Linghao Zhang. The event was hosted by distinguished guests including University of Macau Global Affairs Director Wang Chunming, Faculty of Arts and Humanities Associate Dean Defeng Li, Department of Arts and Design Chair Li Jun, and Centre for Chinese History and Culture Director Zhang Yan. Professor Zhou Hongtao from the Department of Arts and Design served as the forum chair and delivered the forum declaration.
The forum’s keynote speeches, combined with roundtable discussions, facilitated in-depth dialogues among several guests（participants） on topics such as the development trends of international design education from a global perspective, cross-cultural artistic exchange and the reinvention of local culture, digital media and artificial intelligence in artistic innovation, as well as design practices oriented towards sustainability and social care.
Scholars and experts, including Cees de Bont (Head of the Department of Industrial Design, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore; former Dean of the School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Bog-ki Min (Professor at the College of Fine Arts, Seoul National University; former Vice Dean), Constantinos Terzidis (Professor at the College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University; Director of the Xenax Lab; former Coordinator of the Doctor of Design Program at Harvard University), Hua Dong (Professor at the Royal College of Art; Director of the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design; Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation), Clark Llewellyn (Professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa; Director of the Global Doctoral Program; former Dean), Wei Dong (Distinguished Professor and former Chair of the Department of Design Studies, School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin–Madison), and Xavier Ferré (Associate Professor at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; Professor Representing the Rector for the Asia-Pacific Region at the Faculty of Computer Science), shared insights at the forum, explored innovative solutions, discussed the latest developments in their respective fields and global education, and presented forward-looking perspectives.
The roundtable session involved all professors from the Department of Arts and Design at the University of Macau, who engaged in dialogue centered on the theme, “How Art and Design Education Navigates the Convergence of Localization, Internationalization, and Interdisciplinarity.” The discussion emphasized the significant value of Macao’s unique position as a confluence of diverse cultures in art education. A concurrent salon exhibition of faculty and student works was held during the Art and Design Forum, showcasing artistic creations, design projects, and academic publications from the Department of Arts and Design. During the forum declaration segment, guest speakers and faculty members jointly created a textual panorama, adding a distinctly artistic experience to the event. The forum concluded with an artistic summary, featuring a thematic creation by Fan Li, Associate Professor of the Department of Arts and Design at the University of Macau, who served as the invited artist for the forum.
The symposium not only demonstrated the strength and potential of the University of Macau’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities in the field of art and design education, but also provided a sustainable platform for global exchange in the arts and education sectors. Moving forward, the University of Macau will strive to further enhance its participation and influence within the international art and design education community.
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