An executive education Professional Development programme delivered by the RCA for academics and course tutors at Donghua University in China.
At a glance
The RCA delivered a five-day online intensive for 25 academics from Shanghai’s Donghua University (DHU). The programme focused on the RCA ecosystem, specifically how the Research & Knowledge Exchange (RKE) office and our award winning centre for entrepreneurship and commercialisation InnovationRCA bridge the gap between high-level education, materials science, and entrepreneurship.
By sharing institutional strategies and research-led case studies, the course supported DHU’s goal of evolving into a world-class research university specialising in sustainable textile and fashion industries.
Professional development training for academics and researchers provide access to our world leading teaching, research, practitioners, technical resources and facilities.
Key details
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Course structure
The programme featured a mix of senior-level lectures and interactive sessions designed to highlight the RCA’s multidisciplinary approach:
- Joint sessions between RCA and DHU leadership addressing global challenges and innovative strategic thinking.
- Insights into the Materials Science Research Centre and the Textiles Circularity Centre, focusing on industry partnerships and research dissemination.
- Detailed overviews of the Textile Design, Global Innovation Design (GID), and Innovation Design Engineering (IDE) MAs.
- Sessions with InnovationRCA and alumni founders on recognising and supporting early-stage sustainable design innovation.
- A final collaborative day dedicated to group activities, team presentations, and peer feedback.
Included expert keynote speakers from DHU:
- Mr Wang Ping, Director General of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
- Academician Yu Jianyong, President of Donghua University
- Professor Wang Huaping, Donghua University
Course outcome
- Understanding of how to connect academic research with entrepreneurship and external industry.
- Ability to identify and foster innovation within their own academic programmes.
- Insight to the RCA’s approach to Materials Science and Textiles Circularity.
- Insight into the RCA’s strategic planning and the role of Research & Knowledge Exchange.
About Custom Executive Education at the RCA
Through our portfolio of innovation masterclasses and workshops, the RCA provides senior-level professionals and business leaders with critical business skills. We deliver courses for businesses, organisations and universities on design thinking, service design, creative leadership, disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship, human-centred design, artificial Intelligence and healthcare design.
We can tailor the curriculum for a day, a week, or several weeks over the course of a year with interrelated projects. Courses can be delivered online, on-campus, hybrid or at partner organisations. Previous courses have been delivered in Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Germany and Mexico.
Find out more about RCA custom courses.
Please get in contact with us if you would like to discuss developing a custom programme:
Hattie Allen, Executive Education Manager
