HSE University hosts China Academy of Art delegation to strengthen academic and research cooperation

On December 12, the HSE University welcomed a delegation from the China Academy of Art — one of the most prestigious creative universities in Asia. The visit built on the dialogue launched in September and reaffirmed the mutual interest in collaboration that had been outlined during the visit of Natalia Logutova, Deputy Director of the HSE Institute for Creative Industries Development, to the academy’s campus in Hangzhou. The two sides discussed ideas that could form the foundation for long-term partnership — from digital reconstructions of historical spaces to joint educational programs and research initiatives.

Natalia Logutova also took part in this meeting. She was joined on the HSE side by Tatiana Rivchun, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries.The CAA delegation was led by Vice President Professor Cao Xiaoyang, accompanied by the Director of the China Design Museum, Zhang Chunyan, and senior faculty members Wu Fang, Wang Yi, Zhou Yong, and Wang Jie.

The agenda focused on the intersection of design, digital art, and heritage. A central point of discussion was HSE’s digital portfolio platform, which both sides plan to use to involve international experts in student reviews and support the acceleration of student-led startups.

A major highlight of the meeting was the integration of modern technology with historical scholarship. HSE representatives presented a concept for the digital reconstruction of the Tsarina’s Golden Chamber in the Moscow Kremlin using artificial intelligence. This sparked a broader conversation on forming interdisciplinary teams of historians, designers, and metaverse specialists to recreate not only the visual appearance but also the atmosphere of historical monuments. To continue this scientific dialogue, the Chinese delegation was invited to organize its own section at the upcoming international conference on theories and practices of art and design in April.

To establish a strong foundation for future collaboration, the institutions discussed launching mirror educational courses. Recognizing the importance of understanding each other’s cultural context, they plan to develop a course on the history and art of Russia for Chinese students and a corresponding course on the history and art of China for HSE students. These disciplines will form the intellectual basis for future academic exchange programs.

The conversation also explored opportunities within the creative industries, including research into how national cultural codes — such as historical ornaments and textile traditions — can be integrated into contemporary fashion design. In addition, participants discussed HSE’s experience in territorial branding for Russian regions as a case study for improving regional attractiveness to tourists.

The parties also considered producing a joint special issue of the Creative Industries journal. Editor-in-Chief Tatiana Rivchun noted that a dedicated issue with CAA would significantly enhance existing research collaborations. She also emphasized the journal’s philosophy: AI is used solely to generate the cover, symbolizing digital transformation, while all editorial content remains entirely human-created.

After touring the HSE ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL, the delegation visited the main HSE campus on Pokrovsky Boulevard. Guests were particularly impressed by the Durasov House — a restored architectural monument from the late 18th century and a centerpiece of the university complex. The group also toured the university library to see the modern facilities available to students and researchers.

The visit concluded with an invitation for the Russian delegation to travel to Hangzhou in June 2026. The trip will coincide with CAA’s large-scale annual graduation exhibition, a hybrid event that attracts audiences from around the world. This return visit is expected to serve as a starting point for concrete joint initiatives, ranging from shared visual productions to the establishment of a new experimental innovation lab.

Organized with the support of the Institute for Creative Industries as part of the HSE Creative Career Global program — development of international careers in the creative industries.