06 Mar 2025
On February 26, the Design School of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) held its bi-annual Town Hall meeting. This event not only marked the arrival of the new semester, but also provided a platform for dialogue and exchange, where AI technology and design education collectively outlined a new blueprint for the Design School’s future development.
The event began with a speech by Professor Zhoulin Ruan, XJTLU’s Vice President of Academic Affairs, who pointed out that as AI reshapes industrial rules, higher education must establish a new framework.
He said: “In the age of AI, educational goals and the role of teachers need to adapt accordingly. We need to make good use of AI technologies, such as DeepSeek and other large language models, and combine them with the humanities to offer students an education that equips them to face the challenges of the AI era.”
He encouraged staff to leverage AI tools to optimise interdisciplinary course designs, meeting students’ diverse needs for further education or employment, and fostering an educational ecosystem that can adapt to future developments.
Following that, Professor Marc Aurel Schnabel, Dean of the Design School, presented the current Design School’s Five-Year Strategic Plan for 2022–2027.
He said that the mission and vision of the Design School is to cultivate a new generation of designers with sustainable development capabilities and a digital design perspective.
“The Design School will fully implement the ‘Education + AI’ strategy, integrating AI into the curriculum to enhance students’ interdisciplinary entrepreneurial abilities. Additionally, we plan to deepen collaborations with Xi’an Jiaotong University, the University of Liverpool, and global industries to promote collaborative innovation.”
Next, he presented the University’s Strategic Blueprint and the key focus areas for the current and next academic year. He also discussed an ambitious vision of the Design School, and positioned the school as a research-focused interdisciplinary unit organised around research and programmes.
After the speech, staff actively asked questions and engaged in a lively discussion about topics such as personnel distribution, organisational structure, and student development. Professor Schnabel addressed each inquiry, emphasising that collaboration between staff and students will be the foundation and key to achieving the strategic goals.
The Town Hall meeting marked the Design School’s readiness for the new semester as it strives to move towards a more open, innovative, and globalised future in alignment with XJTLU’s mission.
By Zhen Ma
Edited by Yi Qian
Photos by Zhen Ma
06 Mar 2025