An international academic conference for Asian universities specializing in design content was held at Dongseo University. The consortium of these universities was also officially launched.
The 2025 Spring International Conference on Cultural Content Specialization, organized by the Asia Future Design Research Institute and the College of Design at Dongseo University, and co-hosted by the BK21 Education and Research Group and the RISE Project Group, took place at Dongseo University Jurye Campus on the 12th and 13th.
Under the theme "Visual Culture and Creative Education in the Post-Human Era," the conference featured a variety of programs, including sharing the outcomes of graduate courses, a talk program for international students, and an international joint exhibition. The Asian Design College Consortium (ADCC), an alliance of Asian design universities led by Dongseo University, was officially launched during this event.
Inspired by Europe’s Erasmus Program, ADCC aims to establish an "Asia-oriented design exchange platform" that reflects Asia’s unique culture and a vision for future-oriented education. The consortium plans to promote educational cooperation and joint research, with the goal of involving 20 Asian design universities within the next five years.
In his opening remarks, Jang Jooyoung, Dean of the College of Design at Dongseo University, stated, "ADCC will become a glocal engine for design innovation for Asia’s shared future," and expressed hope that "this forum will serve as an opportunity to present new directions for design education."
Robert Chen, former professor at De Montfort University, emphasized the changes in UK higher education institutions and the necessity of research-based convergence education. Makoto Watanabe, professor at Chiba University in Japan, introduced the "Global 7" project and shared the achievements of industry-academia collaboration. Chen Hsien-Hsu, professor at National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, presented cases of innovative education incorporating design thinking, while Melanie Saranto, professor at Kyushu University, discussed the role of design educators in the VUCA era.
During the panel discussion, Na Gun, Chief Designer of Busan Metropolitan City, stressed that "sustainable cooperation between universities ultimately serves the growth of students." Kuo Joyu, professor at National Cheng Kung University, said, "Mobility and exchange between cultures further enrich the essence of design." Lee Seongpil, professor at Dongseo University, pointed out that "we are now in an era where design is solving issues it has never addressed before."
At the end of the event, the "ADCC Design Education Declaration," jointly signed by Dongseo University, Chiba University, Kyushu University, National Cheng Kung University, and others, was announced. The signatory universities pledged to contribute to society through design and to maintain ongoing cooperation, signaling the official start of consortium activities.
The Dongseo University representatives expressed their expectation that "the launch of ADCC will serve as a positive catalyst for establishing Busan as a hub for Asian design education and for attracting the World Design Capital (WDC) designation in the future."
The 2025 Spring International Conference on Cultural Content Specialization is being held at Dongseo University Jurye Campus on the 12th and 13th.
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