Norwich University of the Arts and Donghua University Strengthen International Partnership

Norwich University of the Arts was honoured to welcome President Xiang Yanxun and a senior delegation from Donghua University to Norwich on 28 May 2026 for a formal visit and the signing ceremony for a proposed new MA in Interaction Design. The transnational programme, subject to approval by the Chinese Ministry of Education, would draw on the strengths of both universities in creative and digital education.

The agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Vice-Chancellor Professor Ben Stopher’s visit to Shanghai in September 2025. The visit marked a significant milestone in the growing strategic partnership between the two institutions and reaffirmed a shared commitment to international collaboration in art, design, digital innovation and creative education.

Subject to regulatory approval, the new programme will be delivered at Donghua University in Shanghai. Students would study for an internationally recognised MA in Interaction Design, covering topics such as human-computer interaction, UX design, immersive media, digital technologies and socially responsible innovation. Courses would be taught in English, with academic supervision from both universities, providing a cross-cultural learning experience that draws on the expertise of both institutions.

The partnership brings together Norwich University of the Arts’ renowned art and design education, reflected in its triple Gold ratings in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework and five-star QS Stars rating for teaching excellence, with Donghua University’s academic expertise and strong industry connections.

Located in Shanghai, a World Design Capital, Donghua University is part of China’s elite Project 211 and the national Double First-Class Construction initiative. It is internationally recognised for its strengths in textile engineering, fashion design and creative disciplines.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ben Stopher said:

“This partnership brings together the finest of both institutions. Students in Shanghai will have access to a world-class, internationally validated qualification that combines the best of British and Chinese approaches to creative and technical education.

“We live in a moment when the way people interact with technology and with each other has never mattered more. Shaping that experience thoughtfully and imaginatively is a task that calls for exactly the kind of minds our two institutions are committed to nurturing.”

During the visit, the delegation toured the campus and experienced Norwich University of the Arts’ Immersive Visualisation and Simulation Lab, a facility that reflects the innovative, practice-based approach at the heart of the proposed programme.

The proposed MA in Interaction Design partnership represents an important step in Norwich University of the Arts’ international strategy, strengthening its commitment to globally connected, collaborative creative education and creating new opportunities for cross-cultural learning and creative exchange.