Between July 7 and 27, the School of Design and Art of Xiamen University of Technology (XMUT) collaborated for the sixth time with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore, to successfully host the "Chinese Cultural Immersion" Camp in Xiamen. Forty-one teachers and students from NAFA participated in the three-week immersive program, gaining firsthand experience of the profound heritage of Chinese culture and further deepening the cultural and educational exchanges between the two institutions.

The camp centered on "in-depth experience," showcasing the charm of Chinese culture through diverse formats. Faculty and students from both universities jointly studied the spirit and technique of brushwork and ink in traditional Chinese painting, the wisdom embedded in traditional architectural arts, the lineage of intangible cultural heritage inheritance, and the rich variety of folk arts, constructing a framework for cultural understanding through theoretical exchange. During a deep exploration of the Jimei Kah Kee architectural complex, students immersed themselves in the beauty of architecture that blends Chinese and Western styles. They visited the Gulangyu Bead Embroidery and Silver-Inlaid Tin Carving cultural bases, personally experiencing the exquisite craftsmanship of traditional handicrafts. Visits to institutions like the Red Dot Design Museum and Shangpin Packaging provided a direct understanding of Xiamen's concrete practices in serving as a strategic hub and a cultural exchange platform for the Maritime Silk Road. Since establishing their partnership in 2016, the School of Design and Art of XMUT and NAFA have regularly held annual art and culture workshops in Xiamen, which have become a distinctive platform for exchange between the two institutions.

The success of this "Chinese Cultural Immersion" Camp not only continued the profound bond between the two universities but also promoted Chinese culture internationally through vivid, dynamic means, effectively expanding its global influence. As a microcosm of Sino-Singapore cultural exchange, the event enhanced the Singaporean participants' understanding and cultural affinity towards Chinese culture while continuously injecting new vitality into bilateral educational cooperation. Moving forward, the two universities will continue leveraging culture and education to deepen exchanges in even broader areas of cooperation. 

Welcome Ceremony for the "Chinese Cultural Immersion Camp"

Teachers and students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts learning traditional crafts such as frame purse making, Chinese batik, and tie-dye

Deepening their study of Mandarin, Chinese dialects, and Hokkien culture

Visiting the Red Dot Design Museum to learn about modern product design