24 Oct 2025
From 13 to 17 October 2025, the Academy of Film and Creative Technology (AFCT) was honoured to host our Visiting Professor, internationally renowned media scholar Professor Nico Carpentier. Over the course of this week, he engaged in a series of intensive and insightful academic activities. From high-level meetings and lab tours to cutting-edge lectures and hands-on workshops, his visit provided an intellectual and creative feast for our faculty and students.
In-depth dialogue, charting a collaborative future
The visit commenced on Monday, 13 October, with an official business meeting between Professor Nico Carpentier and the AFCT leadership team, including Dean Professor Qian Liu, Deputy Dean Associate Professor Fang Liu, Operation Director Chuanhui Zhu, and Research Director Dr Yiming Chen. Professor Qian Liu presented the Academy's new organisational structure and strategic directions. Professor Nico Carpentier shared his current research projects and methodological interests, leading to a productive discussion on potential collaboration areas and laying a solid foundation for future joint initiatives.
Immersive experience, praise for Academy facilities
On the morning of Tuesday, 14 October, Professor Nico Carpentier was given a tour of our state-of-the-art facilities. The route included the X Arcade, Immersive Content Creation Studio, Colour Lab, Editing Room, and the Immersive Sound Studio, where a dedicated audio demo was prepared. He was highly impressed by the Academy's advanced teaching and creative resources and expressed particular excitement about the under-construction Immersive Dome Theatre, praising its significant future potential.
A series of academic events: from critical thinking to practice
The cornerstone of the visit was a series of in-depth lectures and workshops, all of which were fully attended and sparked vibrant interactions.
Lecture 1: Data, Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom: Reconstructing the Human-Technology Relationship
This lecture focused on the notion of data fetishism, aiming to complement prevailing techno-optimistic voices with a more critical stance. Through a discursive lens, Professor Nico Carpentier guided the audience to (re)appreciate the importance of knowledge and wisdom in the age of big data, challenging conventional perceptions of technology and humanity.
Lecture 2 & Workshops: Understanding and Practising Arts-Based Research
This combination of a lecture and workshops systematically introduced the arts-based research approach, which reconciles artistic and academic repertoires. The lecture explained its basic principles and discussed a series of international examples. Subsequently, during the two workshop sessions, participants, divided into small groups, used a hands-on photomontage/collage method to reflect on societal issues, experiencing firsthand the knowledge production generated at the intersection of art and academia.
Lecture 3: PhD Application & Research Sharing
This seminar provided invaluable guidance for students considering PhD studies in Europe. Professor Nico Carpentier discussed the trajectory of doctoral studies in a European context, beginning with the application process and extending to life after the PhD. Following the introduction, ample time was reserved for a Q&A session, which addressed many specific questions from the engaged audience.
The five-day visit of Professor Nico Carpentier concluded on a high note with Friday's seminar. More than just an academic series, this visit served as a vital bridge, significantly strengthening the ties between AFCT and the global scholarly community and igniting a passion for cutting-edge research among our faculty and students. We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Nico Carpentier for his insightful sharing and look forward to leveraging this opportunity to foster fruitful collaborations in the future, continually pushing the boundaries in the fields of film, media, and creative technology.
Provided by Yunyi Xue
Edited by Wenzhen Li
Photos courtesy of Yunyi Xue
24 Oct 2025