From May 31 to June 4, 2026, Sun Jian, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Art Design and Media at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), led a delegation to Indonesia for an exchange visit. Focusing on brand innovation and design communication, joint cultivation of international talents, and the deep integration of industry, academia, research and application, the delegation conducted practical exchanges with several Indonesian universities and institutions, advancing the school’s external cooperation and upgrading its open education landscape.
Sun Jian and the delegation visited Universitas Mercu Buana, a well-known private comprehensive university in Indonesia that ranks fourth nationally and holds the top position in academic literature impact indicators. The two sides exchanged views on Sino-Indonesian cultural and artistic exchanges and mutual learning, and reached a preliminary consensus on joint research, cultural exchanges, talent cultivation, artistic innovation and other areas.
During the visit, the delegation and Zhejiang Wanli University were jointly invited to participate in the international exchange project funded by the China National Arts Fund — “International Tour Exhibition of Intercultural Brand Design from Yangtze Delta Region” This exhibition showcased 100 outstanding design works selected from numerous award-winning entries created by young Chinese designers for distinctive brands in the Yangtze River Delta. The exhibits covered renowned Chinese brands and time-honored names such as White Rabbit, Dunhuang Musical Instruments, Maochang Eyewear, Wuliangcai Eyewear, Guan Sheng Yuan, and Tianyi Pavilion. Through brand visual design, cultural and creative product design, cross-cultural communication design and other formats, the works presented innovative expressions of traditional brands in a contemporary context, demonstrating the creative transformation and innovative development of local cultural resources by young Chinese designers.
The opening day attracted a large number of university faculty and students as well as local design professionals. The exhibition also garnered coverage from Shang BaoIndonesia, Indonesian TV and other mainstream Indonesian media outlets, further expanding the event’s communication and influence in the local region.
On June 3, the two universities jointly held a themed academic symposium. Experts and scholars from both countries exchanged views on topics including brand cultural heritage, design innovation and sustainable development, exploring new paths for brand innovation against the backdrop of globalization and digitalization.
Professor Ni Haijun took the practice of “revitalizing time-honored brands” as a starting point, detailing the school’s series of approaches and experiences in time-honored brand innovation, brand rejuvenation and overseas expansion. Miao Ruomu shared her teaching and practical experience in short drama, AI video, digital marketing communication and other fields.
While in Indonesia, the delegation also visited MNC Animation, a leading enterprise in Indonesia’s local animation industry. The two sides held in-depth discussions on topics including artistic media creation, animation production workflow, and the impact and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence technology on the industry. Both sides expressed their intention to explore future cooperation in academic exchanges, internships and practical training, and joint creation.
This visit serves as an important practice for the School of Art Design and Media at ECUST in advancing its internationalization strategy. Through in-depth dialogue with Indonesian universities and cultural institutions, the school effectively exported its disciplinary strengths in areas such as brand innovation and digital media art, further expanded its academic cooperation network in Southeast Asia, deepened mutual trust between Chinese and Indonesian universities in art design and media education, and accumulated valuable experience for exploring international innovative talent cultivation paths and serving the “going global” strategy of Chinese brands.
The delegation also included Professor Ni Haijun, faculty members Miao Ruomu, Zhao Shuwang and Du Hanwen from the School of Art Design and Media, as well as graduate students Shi Jiahui and Guo Yimeng from the Research Center for Time-Honored Brand Innovation.
