From May 16 to 17, 2025, Professor Yasuyuki Hirai and Professor Yanfang Zhang from the Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Japan, together with Professor Toshimitsu Sadamura, President of Social Design Networks, visited the School of Architecture and Fine Arts at Dalian University of Technology. The visit focused on academic exchange, discipline development, and international cooperation, and included a series of in-depth discussions and activities.
On the morning of May 16, the visiting experts held a meeting with Professor Ma Hui, Vice Dean of the School, as well as Associate Professors Xu Wei and Zhang Lu from the Department of Industrial Design. The discussion centered around the overall development of the School, international collaboration strategies, the future direction of the industrial design discipline, and potential models for bilateral cooperation. Following the meeting, Professor Ma Hui presented the three visiting scholars with letters of appointment as guest professors of the School.
In the afternoon, Associate Professor Zhang Lu hosted a special academic lecture delivered by the three guests. The lecture covered cutting-edge topics in social design, inclusive design, and sustainable design aligned with the SDGs, drawing enthusiastic responses from the faculty and students in attendance. The event not only broadened the professional horizons of the audience but also provided important insights into the integration of design research and practice.
On the morning of May 17, the Kyushu University delegation held a thematic discussion with Professor Qu Yi, Director of the DUT Healthy and Friendly Built Environment Research Center, along with Associate Professor Li Guopeng and Dr. Liu Pai. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on the application and research progress of inclusive and universal design in elderly care facilities in China and Japan, and explored future directions and mechanisms for collaborative research. The discussion significantly contributed to the development of the Center and opened new avenues for cooperation in the field of health-friendly environmental design between the two countries.
The visit of the expert team from Kyushu University’s Faculty of Design has greatly expanded the international outlook of our faculty and students, and promoted comprehensive development in academic exchange, research collaboration, and educational innovation. Looking ahead, the School will continue to strengthen partnerships with overseas universities and research institutions, striving to build a globally-oriented academic platform and support high-quality development of its academic disciplines.
