From November 12 to 15, an ICI delegation led by Institute Council Chair Wang Yi conducted a series of visits and research activities in Beijing. The aim was to further advance industry-education integration and broaden pathways for student internships and employment.
The delegation began its visit at the School of Art and Design at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), where the two institutions discussed academic development and innovation in undergraduate teaching. They also explored promising areas for future collaboration, particularly in student development, joint program building, and faculty-student engagement.
The delegation then visited the School of Arts at Renmin University of China (RUC). Discussions centered on approaches to undergraduate design education, and mechanisms for postgraduate recommendation. The visit provided valuable insights that will support ICI in enhancing its educational and governance practices. A productive dialogue followed the formal meeting afterward.
At Beijing Forestry University (BFU), the ICI delegation met with the School of Landscape Architecture to learn about its achievements in academic development, research innovation, and global engagement. As the cradle of modern landscape architecture education in China, the university’s experience offers valuable guidance for ICI as it continues to strengthen related disciplines.
The delegation also visited OPPO Guangdong Mobile Communications Co., Ltd. (Beijing Branch) and Beijing Jingdong Century Trading Co., Ltd. These engagements provided a deeper understanding of each company’s culture, development strategies, and models of industry collaboration. Both sides expressed strong interest in working together on internships, recruitment initiatives, and innovative industry-academia collaboration projects, paving the way for deeper talent-development integration.
During the visits, ICI faculty showcased their distinctive teaching approaches and showcased a selection of outstanding student works. These examples highlighted the effective application of interdisciplinary, interactive, and project-based learning in design education. They also demonstrated the Institute’s commitment to cultivating innovative talent and creating meaningful learning experiences that bridge academic study with real-world practice.
The visits fostered closer understanding among partner institutions and strengthened communication channels for future cooperation. They also laid a solid foundation for expanding multi-level, cross-sector collaborations.
ICI Deputy Chair Shen Xinyi, international faculty members, and administrative staff joined the delegation. Moving forward, the Institute will further strengthen industry partnerships, enhance international collaboration, and advance innovative talent-development strategies.
