Vice-Chancellor visits WSA initiative in China

“Dalian is home to a large number of hi-tech enterprises and a growing number of creative industries, making it an ideal place for students to learn and develop their skills – both on campus and in ‘real world’ environments,” comments Rector of Winchester Campus and Head of Winchester School of Art, Professor Bashir Makhoul.

This is the culmination of a long-term partnership between WSA and DPU which has seen a steady increase in students from China attending WSA. Students at Winchester also have the opportunity to undertake study-tours to China as a part of their degree.

Our Vice-Chancellor toured the Dalian site, met students and attended the official opening last month. He says: “This is an important partnership for the University of Southampton. It brings the experience of a world-class education from the University of Southampton’s Winchester School of Art to talented Chinese students, offering a unique educational experience in China.”

British Ambassador to China, Sebastian Wood CMG, comments: “I am delighted that the University of Southampton – one of the world’s top 75 universities – has agreed this new art and design degree programme with Dalian Polytechnic University. This is a great example of the long term commitment of the UK’s leading universities to work in collaboration with their Chinese counterparts.”

The collaboration has the support of the Chinese regional and national education authorities. Professor Jiyan Zou, President of Dalian Polytechnic University, says: “This collaboration will give students the chance to draw experience from two culturally rich and established heritages, offering the best of both worlds, and I’m sure will lead to exciting and challenging ideas and design work.”