Graduate students from Van Lang University's Faculty of Arts and Design gain hands-on experience in South Korea

Graduate students from the Faculty of Arts and Design, Van Lang University, recently completed an international study and research trip in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, as part of the Research Community Design course. The activity took place concurrently with the 5th International Cultural Diversity Forum 2025, co-organized by the AIC Association (Asian Academy of Culture - AAC and the International Culture Foundation - ICF).

This course is oriented towards providing learners with practical experience, enabling them to identify local community challenges and recommend highly applicable design solutions. In the course of the field experience, the learners from Van Lang University coordinated with students from China and Indonesia to execute surveys and implement feasible design activities.

The teams focused on studying three sites in Suwon, including Yeongheung Arboretum, Haenggung-dong Mural Village, and Haenggung-gil Street. Based on the survey findings, they proposed numerous innovative ideas, such as an interactive game model at the Botanical Park aimed at enhancing children's natural learning experiences, and solutions to elevate the tourism and cultural exchange experience at the Haenggung-dong Mural Village.

At the 5th International Cultural Diversity Forum 2025 and the 4th Asian Cultural Design Contest, Van Lang University’s delegation demonstrated confidence and proactiveness in presenting numerous unique solutions. The Suwon City government highly commended the delegates for their earnest attitude toward study, methodical working approach, and professionalism. Furthermore, these events served as an opportunity for them to engage with and learn from international experts, including Arch. Ngo Viet Nam Son (President of NgoViet Architects & Planners) and prominent design experts from Indonesia.

This practical trip to Korea also served as a follow-up activity to the visit by the Asian Academy of Culture (AAC) to Van Lang University in March 2025. During the event, Van Lang University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the AAC, marking a significant step in expanding international collaboration and promoting future academic exchange programs.

To conclude the program, Van Lang University graduate students were presented with Certificates of Participation by the Chairman of the AAC, acknowledging their practical learning abilities and reinforcing Van Lang University's commitment to fostering professional competencies in our learners. Above all, this journey equipped the learners with valuable experience in researching and addressing community design challenges in Ho Chi Minh City and other regions.

News and Photos: Faculty of Arts and Design