Norwich University of the Arts has signed a partnership agreement with Donghua University in Shanghai to deliver a proposed new MA in Interaction Design, marking a significant milestone in the growing relationship between the two institutions.
On 28 May 2026, Norwich University of the Arts welcomed President Xiang Yanxun and a senior delegation from Donghua University for a formal visit and signing ceremony in Norwich. Subject to approval by the Chinese Ministry of Education, the transnational programme will combine the strengths of both universities in creative, digital and design education.
The agreement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Vice-Chancellor Professor Ben Stopher’s visit to Shanghai in September 2025 and reflects a shared commitment to advancing international collaboration in art, design, digital innovation and creative education.
If approved, the MA in Interaction Design will be delivered at Donghua University’s Shanghai campus. Students will study for an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification exploring areas including human-computer interaction, user experience (UX) design, immersive media, emerging digital technologies and socially responsible innovation.
Teaching will be delivered in English, with academic input and supervision from both institutions, providing students with a distinctive cross-cultural learning experience informed by British and Chinese perspectives on creative and technical education.
The partnership brings together Norwich University of the Arts’ internationally recognised excellence in creative education—demonstrated through its Triple Gold rating in the UK Teaching Excellence Framework and five-star QS Stars rating for teaching—with Donghua University’s academic strengths and extensive industry connections.
Based in Shanghai, one of the world’s leading centres for design and innovation, Donghua University is a member of China’s prestigious Project 211 and Double First-Class Construction initiatives. The university is internationally recognised for its strengths in textile engineering, fashion design and a broad range of creative disciplines.
Professor Ben Stopher, Vice-Chancellor of Norwich University of the Arts, said:
“This partnership brings together the finest qualities 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 those experiences thoughtfully and imaginatively requires exactly the kind of creative and critical thinking our two institutions are committed to nurturing.”
During their visit, the Donghua University delegation toured the Norwich University of the Arts campus, including the University’s Immersive Visualisation and Simulation Lab, showcasing the innovative, practice-based learning environment that underpins the proposed programme.
The proposed MA in Interaction Design represents an important step forward in Norwich University of the Arts’ international strategy, strengthening global partnerships and creating new opportunities for collaboration, cultural exchange and creative learning between the United Kingdom and China.
