On the afternoon of July 4, the 2025 Shanghai New Era International Summer School – International Cross-Media Creative Design Summer Program concluded at Conference Room 308 of the Industry-Education Integration Building on SUES Changning Campus. The Summer Program was hosted by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission and organized by SUES, the closing ceremony was presided over by Ma Jianli, Deputy Secretary of the CPC School of Art and Design Committee. Attendees included student representatives from multiple countries, program coordinators, faculty, and students, who collectively reflected on weeks of cultural exchange and academic exploration.
As a flagship international education initiative of Shanghai, this summer program centered on Cross-Media Creative Design. Over several weeks, participants engaged in deep dialogue and collaboration within the field of art and design through workshops, master lectures, and hands-on projects. Cultural immersion activities emerged as a highlight: international students experienced the essence of Chinese culture firsthand – crafting traditional paper fans featuring intangible cultural heritage, learning ink-wash painting techniques, exploring local communities to observe daily urban life, and feeling the warmth of ordinary family households in China.
“Through traditional craftsmanship and modern artistic creation, I deeply felt how Chinese culture preserves millennia-old wisdom while radiating innovative vitality”, shared Italian participant BONUCCI NICOLA. The specially designed “City Exploration” segment allowed students to traverse Shanghai’s historic districts and contemporary urban landscapes – feeling the weight of history among the Bund’s architectural masterpieces and experiencing genuine warmth at family dining tables in local communities. Such zero-distance cultural dialogue not only enhanced international youth’s understanding of China but also built bridges for mutual civilizational appreciation.
In his closing remarks, Ma Jianli emphasized that the program used design as a universal language and culture as a bond, empowering young people from diverse backgrounds to collaboratively explore creative expression. As the closing ceremony took place, the participants not only gained academic achievements and friendships but also spread these summer memories, imbued with Chinese characteristics, across the world.