The first World Eco-Design Conference was hosted in the Eco-Design Town, Conghua district government, China Industrial Design Association and Swiss Design Association jointly signed Sino-Swiss Design Memorandum of Understanding, and declared to implement cooperation in co-establishing of Wanqu Open University of Design, Eco-Industrial Design Institute of Hong Kong and Macao, and Sino-Swiss Low Carbon Industrial Park etc., forge an ecochain of low carbon industrial design for urban consisting of “One university, One institute and One industrial park”. 

The establishment of Wanqu Open University of Design is one of the 10 implementations of comprehensive improvement of Wenquan area of Conghua themed on “Historical Hot Spring, New Vitality”, so far Wanqu Open University of Design has been settled in scenery area of Wenquan and running normally, more than 50 postgraduate students constituted the first group of admitted  students. During studies, students and instructors take part in the construction of improving Wenquan scenery area, contribute the power of wisdom for local development, promote quality development of innovation and entrepreneurship. After nearly half year of study and research, these 50 postgraduate students have graduated.

It is reported that Wanqu Open University of Design is a university alliancethat is interdisciplinary, intercultural and cross-industrial, the University proposes to admit 100 students each year in the initial founding, the total number of current students is estimated to reach 500.  

Cultivate Top Talents of Innovation and Entrepreneurship  
Bring New Blood to Rural Revitalization
Wanqu Open University of Design allies with leading universities of home and abroad, e.g. Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China Academy of Art, Jiangnan University, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherland, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Macau University of Science and Technology, The University of Nottingham, UK, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand etc., based on cultivating postgraduate and doctoral graduate students, intergate and share resources of students and teachers major in design from different universities, identify industrial design, intelligent design, commercial design etc. as training direction, and build a cluster of design profession of higher education institutes.  

How to Apply Wanqu Open University of Design for Students?
It is learnt that the 10 member universities cooperate with Wanqu Open University of Design allocate exclusive admission target for the program each year, after inspections of the member university and the research institute, candidates accepted by his/her affiliated member university will be placed in the program for cultivation. The admitted students would have dual identity, that he/she is a student studying knowledge and scientific research skills, on the other hand, comparatively, student autonomously engages in scientific and research activities guided by instructors of Wanqu Open University of Design, adequate allowances would be granted to students by the research institute, students can share profits made from the transaction and transformation of scientific research achievements.

Students are required to obtain credits prescribed by the training program within specified time, get pass in master’s thesis defense, receive joint review by associated faculty of member university and Wanqu Open University of Design, being reported to and approved by the member university, student can then be issued a postgraduate certificate of  the member university, be awarded a master’s degree of the member university, and a training certificate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program would be given by Wanqu Open University of Design.

Secretary General and Vice President of China Industrial Design Association, Ying Fangtian states that Wanqu Open University of Design aims to cultivate top talents in innovation and entrepreneurship and assist Greater Bay Area to step in the leading edge of a “Global Eco-Design Center”, centering on leading global market and user demands, put efforts to research and development of advanced technology and innovative design application, cultivate industrial leading talents with entrepreneurship. “We are hoping that attended students can be empowered with 2 systematic competencies, those are systematic competency of innovative thinking and knowledge integration, and systematic competency of innovative design and business planning with market prospect, and realize the mission of design driven industrial transformation and upgrade.”

“Students can learn the most cutting edge and practical knowledge here, meanwhile, the universities constantly provide talents for design enterprises.”Ying Fangtian says. At present, amidst the 50 postgraduates of the first group, around 10 of them stayed and being hired by local enterprises, infuse fresh blood  into rural revitalization in Conghua.

Local Transformation of Scientific Research Achievements
Many Enterprises Are Incubated
It is reported that the first group of postgraduate students are different specialties of Zhejiang University,  Wuhan Technology and Business University etc., including space studies, arts, English translation etc.. “Students and professors share everything here, courses are accessible, they are all interdisciplinary and intercultural. ”Ying Fangtian introduced, during studying at Wanqu Open University of Design, students are divided into different small groups, follow instructors to research on various scientific research program by entrepreneurship and practice approaches.

“We require every assignment is interdisciplinary. For example, a student major in humanities wants to make an intelligent new media product, which is might related to electronic circuit, and it might be also related to design, then he or she needs to look for a student with relevant majors to cooperate. When the program is researched and developed, instructors, professors, entrepreneur and investor will have a joint discussion to decide that whether the scientific research achievements is worth investing, if it is worth it, investor will invest it straight away.” Ying Fangtian noted,interdisciplinary and intercultural study and research methods can mobilize students burst out new design concepts and creativity, create more smart products with humanism. Further enrich and perfect scientific research achievements. Currently, some students have transformed scientific and research achievements in local, and a number of enterprises have been successfully incubated. 

In the exhibition area of the World Eco-Design Conference Center, youcan find a wide range of works which are jointly researched and developed by instructors and students. Thereinto, many drawings and paintings hung on the wall have attracted the journalists. A giant printer is placed near the paintings,and there are several computers beside it. The person-in-charge of Wanqu Open University of Design introduced that, these drawings and paintings are made by a technology of digital art jointly researched and developed by instructors and students. “All you need to do is to input a regular photograph into computer, go through by digital processing, you can get the photograph in painting style by the printer, painting styles are various, e.g. oil, wash etc.”

It is introduced that relying on the Engineering Research Center of Computer Aided Product Innovation Design of the Ministry of Education, the first group of postgraduate students and instructors jointly researched and developed the program of digital art printing technology. Currently the program has given births to several enterprise in digital art, and established digital economic and public services platform, having shaped cluster of digital art industry. The program is estimated to give birth to 50 enterprises in digital art at the end of 2019.

“Other than green and low carbon, Eco-design is meant to construct an innovative and entrepreneurship ecology for design talents in priority.” In the opinion of Ying Fangtian,to become a sourcing center of global eco-design for Conghua, the key of “China’s capital of Eco-Design” is to retain talents which is the prime resource for innovative development, construct a platform of identifying,  talents, cultivation and knowledge transformation in local in the Eco-Design Town.

Design Image for One Village One Product Packaging
Propose the Branding of the Whole Chain
Combine the project of One Village One Product of Conghua, Wanqu Open University of Design has forged “One University, One Village, One Product”, that is a university liaise with a group of villages, and branding a batch of products. Under the research of students and instructors, Qiangang Nuomici lychee, Chetou arrowroot, Baitu peanuts, Shangluo tomato etc., are completed their packaging designed as “One Village One Product”, it improves economic  efficiency of products. The person-in-charge of Wanqu Open University of Design explains that, all design achievements will be conveyed to the district government, provide professional advice for the district government to implement associated works.

In addition to packaging design, appearance and shape, containers of “One Village One Product”, Wanqu Open University of Design is proposing to research on product benchmark for “One Village One Product”, through applying quality control, appearance control,etc. To agricultural products and leading enterprises of administrative region,to unify the standard of products before on shelves. “In future, only if the agricultural products of Conghua pass the approval standards can become the official accredited Conghua specialties.”The person-in-charge of Wanqu Open University of Design said, hoping to strength the branding of Conghua agricultural specialties by setting up product benchmark of agricultural products,  regulate agricultural product management of Conghua.

Meanwhile, Wanqu Open University of Design is proposing to develop derivatives based on the current agricultural products, including agricultural byproducts, cultural and creative products etc. For instance, the University has used distinctive agricultural products of Conghua, e.g. green plum etc., to produce green plum wine and other agricultural byproducts. “We will also use lychee wood, bamboo etc., to make cultural and creative products of pencils, rulers etc, making Conghua specialties more creative and characteristic.”The person-in-charge of Wanqu Open University of Design tells, At present, the University has applied wood, magnet etc.to make “China Ruler”, “Wanqu Ruler” etc. Characteristic cultural and creative products, upcoming there might be“Conghua Ruler”which illustrates Conghua history and culture.  

Give a Full Play of Professional Role
Take Part in Construction of Improving Wenquan Scenery Area
Wanqu Open University of Design is located in Wenquan scenery area, the campus is beautiful and well facilitated, there are functional areas of academic building, dormitories, recreational areas etc.. As part of Wenqun scenery area, Wanqu Open University of Design is having in-depth participation in a 3 year project of improving Wenquan scenery area, assisting associated departments to carry out design and innovative services etc.

“We are forging a souvenir street of Wenquan scenery area with Wenquan Town, various Conghua specialties of agricultural byproducts, cultural and creative products etc. designed and made by us will be introduced in the souvenir street, so as to enrich the varieties of Conghua souvenir.  ”The person-in-charge of Wanqu Open University of Design spoke.

Additionally, Wanqu Open University of Design is engaging in design for scenic spot and landscape of Wenquan scenery area. To better promote the construction of wenquan scenery area, Wanqu Open University of Design has joint the integrative linkage working mechanism of the party construction of Wenquan scenery area, worked together with villages and party  branch of enterprises, jointly get involved in actions of improvements led by grass root party construction of Wenquan scenery area, planning and design improvements, enviromental comprehensive management, cultural tourism industrial improvement, eco-industrial improvement,continuous improvement of farmers’ income etc., realize dual service of industry and party construction, dual cultivation of talents and party members, dual incubation of innovation and entrepreneurship, dual promotion of development and prosperity, dual benefit of enterprises and residents.

Wanqu Open University of Design
Next group of postgraduate students will be enrolled in September this year.
100 people are estimated to be enrolled.
In future, Wanqu Open University of Design will continue cultivating more top talents in innovation and entrepreneurship,