The Offsite Semester Program, a cooperation between Tongji University College of Design and Innovation(D&I) and The New School(TNS), and ArtCenter College of Design(ACCD), kicked off by a warm welcome in the morning of September 21. Faculty and students representatives gathered in Aquarium of D&I to welcome the students from The New School (TNS) and ACCD, who will spend one semester at D&I as exchange students.

Leaders of D&I and directors of programs and administration teams attended the event, and representatives from TNS joined online, including Mariana Amatullo, Vice Provost for Global Strategic Initiatives, The New School; Sven Travis, Associate Professor of Media and Design, Parsons School of Design, The New School; and Mike FU, Assistant Dean for Global Initiatives, Parsons School of Design, The New School.

Students who participated in the students exchange program sent their greetings through a video, which is followed by greetings and encouraging words from faculty of both parties. Dean Prof. Lou Yongqi welcomed the students and encouraged them to keep on exploring even in the time of uncertainty. Prof. Mariana Amatullo expressed appreciation for Tongji University for such opportunity, and believed it will be rewarding experience for the students.

Prof. Zhang Yinan who was visiting scholar to TNS looked back the successful cooperation between the two parties, and student representative introduced and presented a surprise gift to the students, which is from D&I’s Rhino protection project.

Tongji University has made all-around preparations and plans for this Offsite Semester Program to help the students with an easy start. With the program as a starting point, D&I and TNS will further their cooperation and establish a platform of innovation in the near future.