To deepen international engagement and enhance students’ global perspectives and cross-cultural communication skills, a student delegation from SDJU School of Design and Arts (SDA) visited Japan from September 16 to 23. The group visited SDJU partner institution Yamaguchi University and then participated in the Global Goals Jam (GGJ) international workshop hosted by Kyushu University. The exchange featured a rich array of activities and yielded significant results.
The delegation was warmly welcomed by Faculty of Global and Science Studies (FGSS) at Yamaguchi University. Professor Masumi Ueda, Dean of the Faculty, held in-depth discussions with SDJUteachers and students on strengthening collaboration between the two sides. During the visit, Associate Professor Zhang Ting, the delegation lead, delivered an academic lecture titled History of Modern Chinese Design, outlining the development and current trends of Chinese design while highlighting SDJU’s reforms in AI-enhanced teaching. SDA students also presented case studies demonstrating the integration of AI into design classes, showcasing SDJU’s innovative approaches to education and talent cultivation. Students from both institutions conducted multiple group discussions on the joint topic How to Enhance Exchange Students’ Motivation for Job Hunting in Japan, completing key steps such as user profiling and process mapping, which laid a solid foundation for the final project presentation.
In the next phase, Chinese and Japanese students went to Kyushu University. Guided by Professor Zhang Yanfang, the GGJ workshop focused on localizing practices for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mixed teams used tools such as the KJ Method to deeply explore topics including community governance and youth engagement, developing proposals through collaborative design. SDA students demonstrated strong international competence through fluent English and Japanese and active thinking, earning high recognition from participants.
A special online reunion was also arranged during the event, bringing together alumni of the SDA Universal Design Workshop with professors including Zhang Yanfang, Shinichiro Ito, and Christian Cruz. Since its launch at SDA in 2017, the workshop has been held six times. Alumni shared how the experience positively influenced their career development and life paths, underscoring the long-term impact of SDJU global educational model.
At the final presentation, groups involving SDJU and Yamaguchi University students proposed innovative solutions such as Tea Bag Career Design and Happy Career Diary. Their unique creativity and potential for solving real-world issues were highly commended by the evaluators.
Through intensive cross-cultural collaboration and idea exchange, this visit significantly strengthened SDJU students’ international cooperation and innovative thinking capabilities, injecting fresh momentum for future collaboration between SDJU and Yamaguchi University in broader fields.
