On the morning of 25 June, the Institute of Creativity and Innovation (ICI) hosted the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) Academic Award Ceremonies for the Class of 2026 at the main hall of Building 3 on XMU’s Zhangzhou Campus. Keynote speakers included UCA Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Lyndsay Duthie, ICI Dean Professor Qin Jian, and ICI Associate Dean Professor Philip Lambert. Also in attendance were Professor Li Jun, Director of Zhangzhou Campus Management Committee; Professor Timothy Bolton,ICI new Associate Dean; industry guest Mr. Sam McMorran; ICI faculty and staff; and the Class of 2026 along with their families and friends, all coming together to celebrate the successful conclusion of their undergraduate studies.
The ceremony commenced with a formal traditional British academic procession, as the UCA guests and ICI-UCA faculty members entered the hall to the ceremonial music. Professor Philip Lambert then delivered his opening address and invited the ICI-XMU representatives to take their seats on stage, followed by congratulatory messages from the leaders of both institutions.
XMU Vice President Professor Shi Dalin delivered a video address on behalf of the university. He warmly welcomed the visiting UCA delegation and extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2026 on completing their studies. He also paid tribute to the faculty, parents, and friends who had worked tirelessly to support the students throughout their academic journeys. Professor Shi remarked that, through four years of rigorous learning at ICI—an institute that deeply integrates premium educational resources from both universities—the graduates had lived up to expectations, showcasing outstanding achievements driven by their exceptional creative talents and solid professional foundations. He encouraged the graduates to remain grounded in integrity as socially responsible creators, to sustain their passion for learning as proactive contributors to an era of change, and to embrace openness as youthful ambassadors promoting cross-cultural understanding, urging them to write a remarkable chapter for the new generation.
Professor Qin Jian, in his address, remarked that throughout their four-year undergraduate journey, the Class of 2026 successfully navigated the intellectual exchange between two distinct educational systems. By reinterpreting design within a cross-cultural context, they developed unique knowledge structures and cultural sensibilities, achieving remarkable success. On behalf of the institute, he congratulated all graduates and expressed gratitude to the faculty teams and the graduates' families. Drawing from his perspective on design education, he shared three key insights, encouraging graduates to continue questioning, assume responsibility, and maintain empathy and warmth as they venture into broader design realms, ultimately weaving Chinese design narratives into the shared story of human civilization.
In her video address, UCA Joint Vice-Chancellor Professor Melanie Gray expressed her pride in the partnership between UCA and XMU. She extended her warmest congratulations to the graduates on behalf of all UCA staff and wished them great success in their future endeavors.
Professor Lyndsay Duthie highlighted ICI as a landmark achievement in UCA’s international partnerships, noting that it combines UCA’s rich creative heritage with XMU’s academic excellence to nurture the next generation of creative thinkers, designers, innovators, and leaders. She praised the graduates for cultivating creative mindsets and demonstrating resilience, determination, and talent throughout their studies. She expressed how deeply inspired she was by their achievements, and shared her confidence in their future success across various fields. She affirmed that both universities would continue to deepen their collaboration, including the upcoming launch of joint master’s programs, ensuring ICI remains at the forefront of international creative education and innovation. Finally, she thanked outgoing Associate Dean Philip Lambert for his years of dedicated service and welcomed the incoming Associate Dean Timothy Bolton.
Subsequently, graduates from the Class of 2026 took the stage one by one to receive their UCA degree certificates from Pro Vice-Chancellor Lyndsay Duthie. They shook hands and posed for photos with her and the Subject Leads, as guests, faculty, and loved ones witnessed this memorable moment amid enthusiastic applause.
The ceremonies then continued with the presentation of the UCA Creativity and Innovation Award. Professor Philip Lambert presented the 2026 award to Sam McMorran on behalf of UCA. An alumnus of UCA who has lived and worked extensively in China, Sam has held senior leadership roles at renowned global firms including Nike, IDEO, Gensler, and Imagination. In his acceptance speech, he reflected on the evolving nature of creative design, emphasizing that taste, judgment, curiosity, empathy, and intuition define a designer's true value—especially in the age of artificial intelligence. He encouraged the graduates to serve as bridges between Eastern and Western cultures, stay curious, and shape the future.
Student representatives Lou Xuran (Environmental Design), Xia Jia (Visual Communication Design), and Zhang Qingyi (Digital Media Arts) spoke on behalf of their peers. They expressed deep gratitude to the dedicated faculty, supportive families, and fellow students who had accompanied them throughout their undergraduate years. Reflecting on their journeys of growth, transformation, dedication and achievement, they also conveyed hopes for the future and extended their best wishes to their teachers and peers.
In his closing remarks, Professor Philip Lambert congratulated the Class of 2026, advising them to embrace failure as an integral part of the creative process. He urged them to reflect and learn from both successes and setbacks, maintain independent thinking, seek fresh perspectives, and continually spark new ideas. The ceremony concluded amid another resounding round of applause in celebration of the graduates.
Over the past six years since its establishment, ICI has integrated advanced educational philosophies and resources from both China and the UK, opening a new path for Sino-foreign cooperation in school running characterized by “co-construction, joint governance and mutual benefit”. The institute has demonstrated notable success in cultivating talents, earning widespread recognition across various sectors of society. Graduates from ICI’s first three cohorts have secured high-quality further education opportunities and employment, with the majority pursuing further studies. To date, among the Class of 2026, 49 will pursue postgraduate studies at domestic Double First-Class universities such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University, while over 110 have received offers from prestigious overseas institutions, including Harvard University and the University of Hong Kong.
