From China to Rome: Welcome to RUFA
The RUFA campus in San Lorenzo, Rome, has officially welcomed a new group of students from Hainan Normal University, based in Haikou, China. This moment of connection and exchange marks another milestone in the international collaboration established in 2023 between RUFA and the Chinese university, united by a shared commitment to creating educational opportunities that bring together different cultures, teaching methodologies and creative perspectives.
The students have arrived in Italy as part of the joint Bachelor’s programme in Design, structured around the 3+1 model: three years of study at Hainan Normal University, followed by one year in Rome, attending classes and workshops at RUFA.
This experience offers students the opportunity to broaden their design skills, explore new approaches to creative practice and immerse themselves in Italy’s artistic and cultural environment, enriching their academic journey with an international dimension.
An Official Welcome at the RUFA Campus
The welcome ceremony provided an opportunity to officially greet the new students and celebrate the value of the collaboration between the two universities.
The students were welcomed by Fabio Mongelli, RUFA Director, and Melany Parasole, RUFA CEO, who took part in the event, highlighting the importance of international academic partnerships and the opportunities for growth created through dialogue between different educational systems and cultural traditions.
The event also featured contributions from James Guo, student representative and key contact for mediation and organisational support, and Liliana Liao, President of Associna.
Also attending were Anna Malloni and Roberta Giubrone, representatives of the RUFA International Student Office, which plays a key role in welcoming and supporting international students throughout their academic journey.
A meaningful occasion not only for the newly arrived students, but also for the entire RUFA community, which continues to grow and thrive through encounters between people, cultures and creative perspectives from around the world.
The partnership between RUFA and Hainan Normal University is founded on a shared commitment to promoting international education in the arts, building on the academic strengths of both institutions and encouraging dialogue between Italian and Chinese approaches to art and design.
Through joint academic programmes, student and lecturer exchanges, and new opportunities for collaboration, the two institutions are working to develop an educational model that embraces experimentation, cross-cultural exchange and the development of increasingly interdisciplinary skills.
The 3+1 Design programme is a tangible expression of this vision: an academic pathway connecting Haikou and Rome, offering students the opportunity to experience two distinct educational environments and develop a design perspective that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.
